, 1889-04-18
Jefferson County Washington Territory Thursday Ai 1S 1888

the United States. There have bee
found over 2000 blue or proper receip
mutt i.ated and hidden in different par
of the office, one bunch of 200 beir
found rolled up and concealed under
| book case in the office. All of these II
ceipts have been forwarded to the dc
partment. The largest discrepancy dis
covered was for duties on the ship Ma
deira from Liverpool, last June. Th
, amount paid for duty on the cargo b,
Gritiiths, Bridges & Stetson, brokers o
this city, was $603S76 and there is abso
lutely nothing in the records kept by
} Mr.. Harmed to show that $5044 of thi.
money had ever been paid the only eyi
dence WAS stub signed in blank by Mr.
Gritiiths who stated that he paid the full
amount OF $G033.76 to Mr. Harmed who
was special deputy for fourteen years.
When this discrepancy was found Mr..
Harmed was sent for and admitted re-
ceiving the money but could give no sat
islactory explanation of the failure OF the
records to show the payment he sim
ply stated that the money had been
sent to the sub-treasury. The next in
cident OF Importance in the examination
occurred few days later when Harmed
| called at the custom house add request
ed Il private interview with Mr.. Lupton.
| During the interview he rendered Mr..
Lupton 4 certified cheek for $1,000 with
the request that it be used in the settle
! nlent OF his accounts if it was needed to
! cover any deficiencies. Lupton declined
| 10 accept uie check and Harmed left the
Office but returned the next
day and made another request to
, see Lupton alone; the opportunity
was accorded HIM and going into
the special agents room, Harmed
produced a canvas bag contgiE-
ing coin, saying there was S200l, which
be wanted used in strengthening out his
accounts. Mr.. Llpton Immediately
called Mr- CUllom into the room and re-
Peatel what Harmed had said and he
(HRrned) YVES tod that to accept this
money might prejudice the case OF the
United States in bringing criminal
proceedings against him lit was deemed
proper to do SO at any time, Harmed
insisted upon leaving the money and
finally said that as he was ID a tight place
he wanted to be frank, that the mopey
belonged to the United States and that
h.ah hal oh al ~ nd
carried it away with him when he was
dissmi ssed last October. Harmed was
asked if be made that statement in the
presence OF Cullom and Lupton, kaown-
lUg just what such statement meant
and what would be the result to himself
The statement was repeated and Harmed
said it was government money and that
he knew it was government money when
he took il, but that this was the FIRST op.
portunity he had to return it and now
that he had done so he would not touch
it again. Under the Gil Icumstapces there
was nothing left for the collector to do
but receive the money, which was done
and the bag was sealed in Mr.. Harneds
presence and now lies in the custom
house safe awaiting instructions from
the department. We understand that
before Mr.. Harmed made any statement
he was cautioned to say nothing that
| would criminate himself as every
statement by him would be used. Har-
| ned was asked IL he could say to what
| appropriation the money belonged to
| aud he replied that he could not; it was
money that was IN the safe aud he took
it. 1t is claimed by the United States
attorney that the misappropriaIion OF
money ~ Harmed constitutes embezzle-
ment under section 549I, RS.
| The reports to the department have
| been delayed for months and after max
! ing up back reports for last June on ac-
count of fines, penalties and fo.feitnres
reporting no transactions for that month,
2 letter was received from the depart
| nleut stating that there must have been
| a mistake as the clerk OF the district court
had notified the department that be
had sent TO the custom house here
the sum of Sll62. Harmed was called in
and could only show by his books that
1886 had been credited for the entire
month. The books are in his handwrit
ing. He admitted getting the money
from the clerk but could make ne ex
f,lanation as to the discrepancy or wha
became of the money. A few days after
ward letter was received from the de
partment stating that the master Of th,
barkentlne Z" Amelia" requested ie
bate Of $50 on fine OF S1U0. No entr,
being found on the records, Harmed Wa
questioned concerning tl4is item, and h
stated that lac had deposited the none
ith bank in Portland, and ii he wa
given few DAYS time he could get tn
money all right. In going over th
records OF the Office numerous confusin
entries were found, for instance on th
back Of each book OF record was pasted
F, piece OF white paper, effectually concea
ing the name OF the book, and tending
retard the investigation. We are toi
:. llilt i4isAh III -
this TO muddle things as much rs poss
bic, as he did not want people prylh
into the details of the OF the office wori
He kept Heyls Import Duties" an
Rules Governing the Custom Service
!, securely locked in the safe, and no on
d" in the Office had ever seen these book
:. Mr.. Harmed was peculiarly secretly
: about all things connected with his of
y cial duties; his office was veritabl
u star chamber. The door had thre
locks on it and 4 slit was c'
y through which communication migi
-e be had; the window in the doC
IL was covered by shade; the windoTsi
i" the room and the transom at the top
e the partition were also covered b
, shades.