The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-04-01

The community was startled on Monday morning
last, by the announcement that the Custom House had
been robbed of some $4,000. The following are the
facts in the case. The Collector, Mr.. Warren Good
ale, had in his office a small iron safe, in which it was
his custom to place the moneys received for dues, &c.,
until they should be removed to the vault below or to
the government treasury. The key Of this safe he
has always carried in his pocket. The Custom House
was closed as usual on Saturday afternoon last, and
the Collector and the other persons regularly employ
ed about the premises went to their several places of
abode. On Sunday morning, Mr.. Goodale changed
his clothes, hanging his pants, containing the key Of
the safe, in his bedroom with other clothes. There
they remained during the day, and when the family
went to church at 7 o'clock in the evening, nothing
had been touched. Some time after returning from
church in the evening Cat about 10 o~'clock.) on going
into his bedroom which opens out upon the veranda,
it was discovered that a number of articles of clothing
were gone from the hooks where they had previously
hung. On going out upon the veranda, a handker-
chief and vest were found, and on the ground under
the veranda, were two coats and two pairs of pants.
One pair of these pants had contained the key Of the
office safe, which was now missing. Mr.. Goodale
Immediately fastened into town, and proceeded to
the station-bouse, where he was joined by Sheriff
Swinton and a policeman, and the party proceeded
at once to the Custom House. Neither the Collector
nor the Sheriff supposed at this time that an entrance
had been made or that the key could have been used,
and it was more for the satisfaction of Mr.. Goodale,
than with the expectation Of discovering a robbery
that the inspection was made. The party went round
the building and saw nothing to create suspicion.
The sentry who is stationed in front was questioned,
but had seen or heard nothing unusual. After some
little delay in entering. caused by the sentry, who
very properly called his oficer-asleep on Everett's
veranda-the front door was opened and the party
entered. On proceedingu up stairs, the two 6rst rooms,
used as the offices of the store-keeper and book
keeper, were found as usual, undisturbed, but on
entering Mr.. Goodale's room, the robbery was at once
apparent. The safe had been opened. the money all
taken out and emptied from the bags into some kind
of receiver, which the thief or thieves had brought
with them, for the bags we're scattered about the
floor. Matches also lay scattered about, but no lamp
or candle had been used. The iron shutter of the
Office window was unfastened, and near by was a
cooper's hammer and a ball Of sail twine, the first
probably to break in the top Of the safe, had the key
not been obtained, and the latter to communicate with
an accomplice outside, as the twine was unwound
from the ball to q sufficient length to reach the
ground from the Office window. The iron door and
window up stairs in the rear were unfastened, as was
the mauka door on the ground floor, so that two
means of exit were secured to the burglars. The safe
was locked and the key thrown among q lot Of rice
in bags, where it was found the next day. A large
pile of coal lies against the northern end Of the build
ing, Just on a level with the second story end door
and window. over which q person could easily walk
to the ground. Sunday night was very pleasant,
and the moon shone almost as bright a. day. and
this fact goes 70 prove the boldness Of the thieves and
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