The morning news., 1889-04-13
A BIG STEAL In OREGON.
THE GOVERNMENT ROBBED BY
IT'S REVENUE OFFICERS.

Tventy-fve Indictments Against
william Harmed - Eleven Against
+he Son of Henry Ward Beecher
and Twelve Against Quincy A.
Brooks-How the Work Was Ac-
complished.
PORTLAND, ORE, April 12.-This morn
;rg the Oreqonidn prints the following spe-
c,sl dispatch from Port Townsend, A. t.:
The United States grand jury have found
twenty-five indictments against William
Harmed. ex-special deputy collector; eleven
AGAINST Herbert F. Beecher, ex-treasury
agent, and twelve against Quincy A.
Brooks ior stealing from the government.
The record and accounts have been thor
oughlv overhauled and presented to the
Grand Jury for the first time in many years
nv government officials especially sent out
from Washington by the department to
mako A personal investigation of the many
charpes preferred by the press and public.
Last January Leslie Cullom, acting collec-
tor and L. L. Lupton, first auditor of the
danartnent. commenced the investigation.
Special Treasury Agent Crowley had
nreyiously partially examined the customs
accounts and dismissed harmed.
WENT BACK YEAR.
The records were examined, going
as far back as April The first thing
found was that vessels had been
oyercharged in entrance and clearance
and private receipts issued. The gov
ernnent receipt came out of what was
called a ''blue book" many of the pages
being DESTROYED and white receipts issued
instead. By this method vessels were
swtndled out of small sums, amounting to a
few dollars each, but which aggregate many
thousand dollars per year. In another
mart of the records was found
where the payer was charged IN some in
stances many hundred dollars more than
credited An instance was cited where the
British steamer Sardony, was charged
1920 and only 1920 was paid to the govern
ment. Another vessel paid 1925 and was
credited with $165. Wa Chong of Seattle
paid 81 ,S25 and was credited with s. Gal.
Thousands of 'blue" or government re-
ceipts were faund in mutilated condition
concealed in various parts of the office. The
largest steal discovered was for the duties
paid on the cargo of British bark Madeira
from Liverpool last June. Duty to the
amount of Sc, ,03S was paid, and the govern
ment received S5,O44. The records, how
ever, indicated that no money was paid
during the month.
HOW IT CAME OUT.
One of the consignees, James Giiffiths,
claimed to have paid Harmed the amount.
Harmed acknowledged appropriating the
money and took a bag containing $4,000 to
make up the deficiency to Acting Collector
Cullom to make good his accounts. The
clerk Of the district court at Seattle holds
receipts for 81 $50 and only 1878 is credited
to the government for the entire month.
Harmed admits getting the money, but
could not account for the same.
The master of the barkentine Amelia
paid fine of 500, of which there is moth
Ing to show on the records. After Harmed
was dismissed, over $4,000 was found
in various parts of the Office.
secreted under carpets, in flower pots, pig
con holes and other places T records of
the daily receipts during the latter of Mr..
Beecher's time are missing from the Office.
The records up to Harned's dismissal last
November are also gone. making it impos-
sibe accurately to determine the deficits.
Brooks is short $4,000 In addition to the
4 Illegal fees collected, amounting to another
$4,000. All are specifically charged with
extortion, removing public records and
falsIiying the accounts. There are 63S
4 opium stamps missing, valued at SIS each,
besides large number of Chinese return
certificates, which have become missing
i since the passage of the Chinese restriction
act. Harmed and Beecher will be arrested
j 70 morrow and placed under $1,000 bonds.
he7 refuse to make any statement. The
4 books are in Washington. Harmed is worth
3 etJOUan0 has many warm personal friends
on Puget sound