The Stone Money of Yap - Smithsonian Institution

On 20 January 1961, the case of Choo, plaintiff, vs
Pong, defendant, was docketed in the District Court,
Yap District, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
as Civil Action No. 27.
COMPLAINT
1. The plaintiff lives in Dechumur village Tomil Municipality
Yap Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
2. The defendant lives in Bugol village Tomil Municipality
Yap Island, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
3. On or about February, 1960, the defendant took and applied
to his own use one stone money (Ray) of the value of one
hundred and twenty-five ($125.00) dollars, belonging to
the plaintiff and sold onto the National Museum in Detroit,
Michigan U. S. A., which in return, he the defendant
received one hundred and twenty-five ($125.00) dollars in
check #1405.
4. Therefore the plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant
in the sum of one hundred and twenty-five ($125.00)
dollars or make return of the said stone money itself to the
plaintiff.
On 2 February 1961, the defendant filed his answer
demanding trial. On 6 April, the plaintiff filed
"Motion for Request Permission to Take Deposition"
of one Defngin, who was " leaving for Koror, Palau
District and may not be able to return in time for
trial . . . ." The deposition was taken the same day
before Judge Joseph Fanechoor. The plaintiffs
counsel was Gilganangin; the defendant's counsel
was Frank Falounug. The deponent testified as
follows:
C-P
C-P
DIRECT EXAM
Q. Please state your name, age, address and occupation?
A. Defngin
35
Woneyan, Gagil Municipality
Asst. Anthropologist
0_. Have you heard about this case that are involved
stone money being sold by Pong to U. S.
A. Yes, I have heard about it.
0_. Did you help prepare the story behind this stone
money by writing it?
A. Yes
Appendix 1
Civil Action No. 25
22
Court Q. What did you write?
A. The story behind the stone money.
C-P Q_. Was Pong the one who gave you the story?
A. Yes
Q_. Where?
A. Tablau Office (old Distad Building)
Court Q. Do you have the written story in your possession?
A. No, Mr. Halvorsen took it.
Q. Please tell the court about the story you wrote on
the stone money?
A. Pong told me that during working at Tarang, a
man by the name of Puguu came and asked him
for 300 yen.
C-P Q. Did he asked for something else beside money?
A. What I was told was only the money.
Q. During what?
A. During working at Tarang.
Q. Did he get the stone money in return for the 300
yen he was asked for?
A. They exchanged the stone money with the 300 yen.
CROSS EXAM
C-D Q. Was the 300 yen written on the paper you gave
Mr. Halvorsen?
A. Yes
Q. What you have said were the only things you and
Pong talked about?
A. There were more but I couldn't recall them.
Q. About how long did you and Pong talked?
A. Assuming (3 full written pages)
Q. When was the time Puguu and Pong exchange the
stone money with the 300 yen?
A. During working at Tarang.
Q. Did Pong ever told you where the stone money
came from to Puguu?
A. He said, "It was given to him by Fazagol"
Q_. Did he tell you when was this actually took place?
A. No.
Q,. Did he tell you why Fazagol gave Puguu the stone
money?
A. They exchange the stone money with some tin
roofings.
no further question
C-P Q. The very day the stone money was exchanged with
the 300 yen, did you yourself didn't write it date
down or weren't you told?
A. I wasn't told.
no further question from either parties.