The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-03-01

To day also came the news that the Geo. W. Elder
arrived in the straits OF Fuca yesterday, and the
Idaho, from Victoria, having arrived here last
night. all those steamers that were az sea al the
time the wreck was discovered have turned M
safe. The Gipsy, which on Sunday had orders
sent 20 her TO search for the wreck has returned
TO port without having discovered any trace Of the
dismantled vessel. Nothing was seen bv anv of
the vessels that have recently arrived In rort and
the opinion has been expressed that II the knlk is
not that Of the Rainier il must be that of the
Flying Dutchman, which has not been seen
since Its disappearance, fifty or sixty years apo
In other words, that some wag has hoaxed he
Merchants Exchange, and, through it. the com
munity.
CROOKED business
Two examples Of succumhing to temptation by
men of good position and hitherto unblemished
reputation have lately occurred. Stock Gambling
and hopes of reaching riches by short cuts IA too
prevalent delusion here,) has been the cause Col.
Batchelder IN whose department the last defalca-
ton occurred, will be remembered by many in
Honolulu, whom he met there, some years since
when visiting or army business. John T. Best
one person spoken Of as the first defaulter was
trusted and confidential clerk of many wears
and deemed an honorable man. He got avay with
some $4,000 and since his arrest submits 10 the
inevitable without hope Of restoration to former
standing.
The cloud which settled over the EnVinser,s
Department of the lighthouse service in the sham
Of John L. Bests defalcation has now cast deep
shadow over the Quartermasteris Department OF
the army, of which Major r. N Batehelder i
chief Another chief clerk has gone TO the County
Jail TO keep Best in countenance. John r Broad
head, the trusted chief clerk of the Quarter
masters Department since March, 1879. was deliy-
cred yesterday into the custody of the United
States Marshal on criminal charge of raising a
check and was placed under bonds of Sl0iSDC
The forgery, for such it may be termed, was dis
covered on Wednesday last and confessed by
Broadhead in private to Major Batchelder
On the 18th of last month Broadhesd draw n
check upon the United States Treasury for &4.5O.
payable to II. NJ. Black, the wagon dealer or
among others for signature, which was readily
given, the insignificant sum not warranting any
very critical examination, and the signing Of
checks being common occurrence in the daily
routine of business.
In filling out the check and the line in the boiv
of 1t, a wide space was left by Rroadhead between
the sign IS and the word -Four at one end.
and the word dollars" and the fractional sicn
J0-lOO at the other end of the line After the
check had received the signature of Major BatcheI
der the words thousand six hundredr Vers
written III in the blank space and the uumbars
600 In the space in the scroll in one corner Of
the check, thus raising the check from $4.D to
Si,6OO5D. Three days after the check had been
signed-on the 18th of January-it was presentetl
as raised TO the Sub b-Treasury for payment nv
Kenny Dyer, stock brokers at 22S Montgomery
street, with whom Jack Best also dealt and TO
whom IT was delivered by Broadhead as mart set-
uement of his accounts with them.
broadhead, who takes his arrest in much the
same matter-ot-fact way as did John I. Best, with
whose crime 1t has many points in common, both
men having enjoyed the implicit trust of their
suPeuors, had good regulations and were con-
sldered the very mold and pattern Of honor n
nd not y @ known generally that Brandhaai
spt .latiIg IN stock; nor does Major Batehel-
c-- iA.H 20 tay .Hll I.a irIsted c1ahdCut was ID
l-t't Iil l.- -i constant attendant upon Beiley's
faro me as 3lH1 Pine street Not being a
lIm{ oliosr- and mo-. being gRdcl bonds, the loss
slil have 60 be made good by Major RsicheIdsr
who a5s1r''1 thg llpurtgr yesterday evening thai
E Iaa per laiy made gnui The deicit, and tbat
.lt ooTernma1 would no, sustain tn losS of