§657-21  Extension by keeping defendant in ignorance.  When an action is alleged by a plaintiff to have been commenced within the time required by law, and the allegation is put in issue by the defendant, it shall be competent for the defendant to prove, on the trial, that the process issued by the plaintiff was not issued with the intent or in the manner required by law; or that any means whatever were used by the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's attorney, to prevent the service of the writ, or to keep the defendant in ignorance of the issuing thereof. [CC 1859, §1044; RL 1925, §2655; RL 1935, §3926; RL 1945, §10437; RL 1955, §241-20; HRS §657-21; am L 1972, c 105, §1(m); gen ch 1985]