New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-13
FOR STEALING PUBLIC MONEY.
II. F. BEECHER AND HIS COMPANIONS
INDICTED.
THE NG.coNTINUED DEPREDATIoNs ON
PUGET SOUND AT LAST INVESTIGATED
RECORDS MUTILATED AND MISS.
ING.


Portland; Oregon, April a." The oregonian"
to-day prints the following dispatch from Port
Townsend, w. t.:
The United States Grand Jury have found
twenty-five indictments against William Harmed,
ex-specal deputy collector; eleven against Her
bert F. Beecher, ex-Treasury agent, and twelve
against Quincy A. Brooks, for stealing from the
Government. The records and accounts have been
thoroughly overhauled and presented to the Grand
Jury for the first time in many years, by Govern
ment officials sent from Washington by the
Department to mako personal investigation
of the charges preferred by press and
public. In January, Leslie Cullom, acting
Collector, and L. L. Lupton, first Auditor
of the Department. began the inves-
tigation. Special Treasury Agent Crowley had
previously partially examined the customs ac-
counts and dismissed Harmed. The records were
examined, going as far back as April The first
thing found was that vessels had been overcharged
in entrance and clearance and private receipts
issued, The Government receipts came out OF
what was called the Blue Book" many Of the
pages being destroyed and white receipts issued
instead By this method vessels were swindled
out Of small sums amounting to few dollars each,
which aggregated many thousand dollars year.
~~N-'-
where payer was charged in some instances many
hundred dollars more than were cred
tied An incident was cited when the
British steamer Sardony charged 1920, only. $32a
was paid to the Government Another vessel pai9
1925 and was credited with 81 So. Wa-Chong, OF
Seattle, paid ST. 1913 and was credited with ST. GAL
Two thousand "Blue7 or Government receipts
were found in a mutilated condition, concealed In
various parts of the Office. The largest steal
discovered was for duties paid the cargo OF the
British bark Madeira. from Liverpool, last Juno
Duty to the amount of s603S was paid and the
Government received S5, ,044. The records, how
ever, indicated that no money was paid during the
month, One of the oonsignees. James Giilhths,
claimed to have paid Harmed the amount. Harmed
acknowledged appropriating money lie took q
bag containing 81, 600 to Acting Collector Cullom
TO make good his accounts
The clerk OF the district OF Seattle holds re-
ceipts for 81 $50, and only s373 is credited TO the
Government for the entire month Harmed admits
getting the money, but cannot account for IL. The
master of the barkentine Amelia paid fine of 81 00
of which there is mention in the records. After
Harmed was dismissed over 81 200 was found in
various parts Of the Office secreted undor the car
pets in flower pots, pigeon-holes and other places.
Records of the daily receipts during the latter pars
of Beecher's time arc also missing from the oiiice.
Brooks is short $4,000, in addition to illeHl
fees collected amounting 70 another 81 5000. All
are specifically charged with eXtortfon, removing
public records and falsifying accounts. There are
$40 opium stamps missing, valued at % each, bo-
sides large number OF Chinese return certificates,
which have been missed since the passage Of the
Chinese Restriction Act Harmed and BCecher will
be arrested tomorrow and placed under $4,000
bonds. They refuse To make any statements.
Brooks is In Washington Harmed Is worth
100000, and has many warm PERSONAL friends on
PUGET Sound