THE MASSIE TRIALS (1931-1932)
Tamara Beric
HAWAII 1930s
Accusations
GRACE FORTESCUE
- Peeples Traffic Accident
- License Number similiarity
- arrests of 5 young men:
- Joseph Kahahawai, 20
- Ben Ahakuelo, 20
- Horace Ida, 24
- David Takai, 21
- Henry Chang, 22
- Trial begins: Territory of Hawaii v. Ben Ahakuelo et al.
- Conquest/ Pearl Harbor
- conflict between local population and military personnel
- Great Depression
- Racial Tension
- Social class conflicts
- natives v. haoles
the Massies
- Lieutanant Thomas Massie and his wife Thalia Massie
- Navy Night Dance - Sep. 12th, 1931
- Ala Moana
- Alleged Rape
CLARENCE DARROW
- fake summons
- kidnaps Joseph Kahahawai
- shot with .36 caliber
- body found dead in buick
- Territory of Hawaii v. Grace Fortescue, et al. begins
- Defense Attorney for many famous trials
- confusion arose
- usually chose the underdog
- racial minorities
- this time: defending white elite
- cared for individual life and liberty
- trial verdict: hung jury
- boys not charged of capital crime = cannot be held by the court
MAJOR ISSUES
- RACE
- CLASS
- POWER STRUGGLE
- WOMEN SAFETY AND RAPE
- INJUSTICE IN THE COURT
- PREJUDICE PREVAILED
- EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
- LAWYER TACTICS/ DECORUM
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?
PUBLIC PORTRAYAL vs. WRONGFULLY ACCUSED
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE CANNOT GO UNNOTICED
DUTY OF CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY
THE END.
SERVED ONLY ONE HOUR ... IN AN OFFICE