The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13
BIO CUSTOMS FRAUDS.
U. s. officials at Port Townsend In
dicted for Wholesale Swindlinu

U, s. Officials at Port Townsend In.
dicted for Wholesale swindling.
PORTLAND, Orc, April l2.--This morn
ing's 0rcgoniUi prints the following special
dispatch from Port Townsend, w. T.;
The United States Grand Jury has found
twenty-five indictments against William
Harmed, Special Deputy Collectors eleven
against Herbert i. Beecher, ex.Trcasury
Agent and twelve. against Quincy A.
Brooks, for stealing from the Government.
Records and accounts have been thor
oughly overhaulcd and presented to the
Grand Jury Tor 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.. l..
Lupton, First Auditor OF the Department,
commenced the investigation. Special
Treasury Agent Crowley had previously
partially examined the customs accounts,
and dismissed Harmed. Tho records were
examined, going IA far back M April. Tho
first thing found wis that vessels had been
overcharged In entrance aud clearance aud
private receipts issued Tho Government
receipts came out OF what was called the
"blue book" many OF the pages being de-
stroyed aud white receipts issued instead
by this method vessels were swindlcd out
OF small sums amounting 10 lew dollars
each, which aggregated many thousand
dollars per year. In another part OF the
- l..,..I
charged in some instances many hundred
dollars more than credited, An incident
was cited when the British steamer Sar-
dony, charged $500, only $500 was paid TO
the Government. Another vessel paid
S225 and was credited with Sl05, Wa
Chong of Seattle, paid Isis and was
credited with Sl,6ll. Two thousand
"bluo' or Government receipts were
found in a mutilated condition, concealed
In various parts OF the Office.
The largest steal discovered was for du.
ties paid on the cargo OF the British bark
Madeira, from Liverpool, last June. Duty
10 the amount OF 80 .O3s was paid, and the
Government received S5,Oii. The records,
however, show that no money WIS paid
during the month. One OF the consignccs,
James Gniliths. claimed 10 have paid
Harmed the amount. Harmed acknowl-
edged appropriating money and took u
bag containing 1000 20 make up the dc-
fcicncy to the Acting Collector, Cullom,
to make good his accounts The Clerk OF
the District at Seattle holds receipts for
81 900. and only s373 In credited 10 tho
Government Tor the entire month.
Harmed admits getting the money, but
could not account for the same. The mas.
ter OF the barkcntinc Amelia paid liuo OF
Sl00, Of which there rs nothing 70 show on
| the records. After iarna8wW dismissed
over Sl2 900 wus EQUAL Va various parts o
the offices, sccrclcd under the carpets, IL
flower pots, pigeon holes and other places,
| Records OF the daily receipts during the
latter part OF llcochcr's time nre also miss
ing from the office. In addition 20 tho
other records. up 10 the timo OF llafned's
dismissal last November, are also gone,
making IL impossible accurately 10 dclcr-
mine the deficits. Brooks IL short slj, 900,
In addition 10 Illegal fees collected. amount
ing 60 another $1,000 All are specific
ally charged with cxloriion, removing
public records aud inlsilying accounts.
There are G3s opium STAMPS missing,
valued at s. each, besides large number
Of Chinese return certificates, which have
become missing since the passage Of the
Chinese restriction act. Harmed and
Bocchcr will DO arrested tomorrow aud
placed under 5000 bonds They refuse
10 make any statements. Brooks u In
Washington. Harmed IL worth $1,000,
and has many warm personal friends on
Puget sound