Wichita eagle., 1889-04-13
EXTENSIVE FRAUDS.
Western Treasury Officials Indicted for
Stealing From the Government.

PORTLAND, Ore, April 12.-This morn
ing's Oregonian prints the following spec
ial dispatch from Port Townsend, W. T.:
The United States grand jury have found
twenty-five indictments against William
Harmed, special deputy collector, eleven
against Herbert i. Beecher. ex-treasury
agent, and twelve against Quincy A.
Brooks, for stealing from the government.
The records and accounts have been thor
oughly overhauled and presented to the
grand jury for the first time in many
years by government officials especially
sent out from Washington by the depart
ment to make personal investigation of
the many charges preferred by the press
and the public.
Last January Leslie Cullom. acting
collector, and L. J.. Luyston, first
auditor of the department, commenced In
yestigation. Special Treasury Agent
Crowley had previously partly examined
the customs accounts and dismissed
Harmed. The records were examined, GO
ing as far back as April. The first thing
found was that vessels had been over
charged in entrance and clearing and pri-
yate receipts issued. Government receipts
came out of blue receipt book. Many of
its pages were destroyed and white receipts
were swindled out of small sums, amount
ing to few dollars each, which aggre-
gated many thousand dollars per year.
In another part of the record was found
where payer was charged in some in
stances many hundred dollars more than
credited. An incident was cited.
When the British steamer Sar-
donia was charged $500 only
$500 was paid to the government. Another
vessel paid Ss?25 and was credited with S165.
Wa Chong, of Seattle, paid s., SIS an d was
credited with l,641. Two Thousand blue
or government receipts were found in
mutilated condition concealed in various
parts of the office. The largest steal dis
covered was for duties paid on the cargo
of the British bark MADEIRA, from Liver
pool, last June. Dutysto the amount of
S603S was paid and the government re-
ceived s., 045 The records, however indi-
Gated that no money was paid during the
month. One of the consigpees, James
Griffith, claimed to have paid Harmed the
amount. Harvey acknowledged to appro-
priating the money and took d bag con-
tanning 5000 to make up the deficiency
to Acting Collector Cullom to make
good his accounts The clerk of the
district at Seattle holds receipts Tor $1,660,
and only 1913 is credited to the govern
ment for the entire month. Harmed ad-
mits getting the money but could not ac-
barkentine Amelia paid fine of 500. of
which there is nothing to show on the
records.
After Harmed was dismissed oyer So, 600
was found in various parts of the Office
secreted under carpets, in flower pots,
pigeon holes, and other places Records
of the daily receipts during the latter part
OF Beecher'S time are also missing from
the office. In addition other records up to
the time OF Haned's dismissal last
November are also gone, making
it impossible TO accurately determine
the deficits. Brooks is short
SIS, 900 in addition to illegal fees collected,
amounting TO another $4,000.
All are specifically charged with extor-
ton, removing public records and falsify-
ing accounts. There are 63S opium stamps
missing, valued at IS each. besides large
number of Chinese return certificates,
which have become missing since the pass
age of the Chinese restriction act.
Harmed and Beecher will be arrested to-
morrow and placed under 5000 bond.
They refuse TO make any statements
Harmed is worth $4,000 and has many
warm personal friends on Puget Sound.