Center for Labor Education & Research, University of Hawaii - West Oahu: Honolulu Record Digitization Project
Honolulu Record, Volume 10 No. 2, Thursday, August 15, 1957 p. 1
'King of Fleecers' Was Freed by Governor King; Pat Yim Out 3 Months Now; Did He 'Cooperate'?
Leaving three accomplices in Oahu Prison, Patrick Yim, one of Honolulu's most notorious fleecers, had his sentence commuted in May of this year by then Governor Samuel Wilder King, and came out of prison May 8. Shortly thereafter, he left for the Mainland, his release and departure unreported in the local press.
But here in Hawaii behind him, Yim left a trail clouded by mystery as thick as any of his swindling operations down through the years.
While in prison on another offense, Yim was indicted Sept. 18, 1952 along with three other men for the fleecing of Mrs. Gregoria Omboy, a Gold Star Mother, of $13,000. The other three were Mike Legaspi, Antonio Pascua and Emiliano Bale. All four pled not guilty to the charge of gross cheat. On March 4, 1953, Yim withdrew his plea of not guilty and substituted a plea of guilty before Circuit Judge Carrick Buck. The other three stood trial and were convicted. All four, however, received the same sentences, 10-year maximum sentences and, eventually, seven year minimums.
Following the sentencing of Yim, a story was circulated, believed to have come from Oahu Prison, but believed in some official circles, that Yim's plea of guilty had been accompanied by a "deal" in which he would cooperate with the C-C prosecutor's office and receive either a quick parole or a short minimum sentence, but that Judge Buck had gone back on her word.
Judge Buck Unequivocal
Asked about that story by the RECORD, Judge Buck unequivocally denied that any such thing occurred. "If they (the prosecutor and his staff) had come in to me with any such proposition," she said, "I would have thrown them out of my office." Elaborating, she said further, "I have told the prosecutors that they must never count me Into any of the deals they may want to make for I will net be bound by them." Bobert St. Sure, who was C-C prosecutor at the time, had no comment of any sort on the case, and other members of his staff involved were not available. John Peters, now C-C prosecutor, says he knows nothing about the case whatever. Arthur Hoke, secretary of the board of paroles and pardons, was not available at press time and the reason given by Sam King for com-muting the sentence could not be learned. King is absent on the Big Island and his office had to information on the subject. But it was learned that the prosecutor's office had originally sug-gested a minimum of three years to the board. Yim has actually served more than four years.
Although Alex Sumida was always called the "King of the Fleecers" in Hawaii, Yim advertised himself less but is reported to have gathered in more than 540,000 , from "marks." and in the minds of police who know his activities, probably deserved the title far more than Sumida. There was one difference. While Sumida virtually never resorted to violence, or the threat of force, Yim was known to have engaged in some robberies and burglaries. A man who was held up and robbed in Kaimuki was surprised two years later to have a detective confront him, show him the pictures of the men who had robbed him and identify one of the pictures as that of Pat Yim.
The man agreed to cooperate in any way that might be needed, but he never saw the detective again. That is one of the many mysteries of the case of Pat Yim.
Once “Sold” Woody’s
Others of Yim's shenanigans are known better. It has been confirmed that he once sold a Filipino "mark" the well known restaurant, "Woody's" on Kapiolani Blvd. for a price in the neighborhood, of $12,000. In that case, the pitch was a smooth one. Yim took the Filipino into the restaurant at one of its busy periods, acted as though he owned the place, and actually took his victim on a tour of the premises, expansively pointing out the ornate furnishings, waving proudly at stoves, opening iceboxes to give the victim a look inside, and in general putting on a convincing show. The "sale" was effected, though what the true owners of "Woody's" told the victim when he set out to claim his property is not known. On occasion Yim could assume the role of a government official if need be for his fleecing operations.
In fleecing Mrs. Omboy, he represented himself as having an office at the Judiciary Building and instructed her to wart out-side an office there until he should meet her and bung the deed. Needless to say, he never showed up.
Looked Like Judge Heen
Yim made his imposing bearing pay off, but his marked physical resemblance to Judge William Heen was sometimes as inconvenient for him as it may have been embarrassing for Heen. More than once, a victim who couldn't identify Yim otherwise would say, "HP looks like Judge Heen." The cops, knew they were dealing with Yim again. One such victim visited City Hall again and again trying to find there with whom he had invested 523,000 in a "shoe deal." When it was established that "Akina" looked like Judge Heen, the man was questioned more closely and revealed that the exchange of money had been at Pier 16, a strange place to negotiate a "shoe deal."
In the end, "the victim admitted he had invested the $23,000 in a narcotics proposition "Akina" had put to him. It was an expensive lesson in ethics and identification. On another occasion, Yim and friends entered a poolroom in the Punchbowl district and started shooting pool. From the pool game, real gambling developed and when the game was over, Yim had won the poolroom. Together, the master fleecer and the loser went down to the Territorial Bureau of Conveyances and had the title made over to Yim. The victims of this "King of the Fleecers" were by no means necessarily the poorly educated, ill-informed people who are so generally believed to be "suckers" for such rackets. One who turned out to be a most uncomfortable victim was a very shrewd businessman, a Mainland haole who is still operating in Honolulu today and perhaps the biggest operator in his particular line of business.