St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-13
Charged With Having De-
fpauded the Government
Extensively
In the Course of Their Official
Work at the Custom
House.
A Little at a Time, but a Great
Many Times Was Their
Process.


The United States grand jury have
found twenty-five indictments against
William Harmed, ex-special deputy col
lector; eleven against Herbert F. Beech
er, ex-treasury agent, and twelve against
Quincy A. Brooks, for stealing from the
government. Records and accounts
have been thoroughly overhauled and
presented to the grand jury for the first
Time IN many years. by govern
ment officials specially sent out
from Washington by the depart
ment to make personal investigation
OIL the many cherges preferred by press
and public. Last January Leslie Gull
lon, acting collector, and L. L. Lupton,
first auditor of the department, COM
menced the investigation. Special
treasury Agent Crowley had previously
and dismissed Harmed. The records
were examined, going as far back as
April: The first thing found was that
vessels had been overcharged in ell
trance and clearance, and private re-
celpts issued. The governments re-
celpts came out of what was called the
''blue book" many of the pages being
destroyed and white receipts issued in
stead. By this method, vessels were
sWlndled out of small sums amounting
to few dollars each, which aggregated
many thousands of dollars per year.
In another part of the records was found
where payer was charged in some
instances many hundred dollars more
than credited. An incident was cited
when the British steamer Sardony was
charged 1920, only $500 was paid to the
government. Another vessel paid 1925
and was credited with S165. Wa ChOng,
OF Seattle, paid $1,825, and was credited
with S1,64l. Two thousand ''blue," or
government receipts were found in a
mutilated condition concealed in various
parts of the Office. The largest steal
discovered was for duties paid on the
cargo Of the British bark Madeira, from
Liverpool, last June. Duty to the
amount of S6,03S was paid, and the gov
eminent received 1904. The records,
however indicated that no money was
paid during the month. One of the con-
signees, James Griffiths, claimed to
have paid Harmed the amount.
Harmed acknowledged appropriating
money. and took bag containing s., 600
to make up the deficiency to Acting
Collector Cullom, to make good his ac-
counts. The clerk of the district at Sc
attle holds receipts for 1,660, and only
1913 is credited to the government for
the entire month. Harmed admits get
ting the money, but could not account
for the same. The master of the bark
entine paid fine of 500, of which there
is nothing to show on the records. After
Harmed was dismissed, over $4,000 was
found In various parts of the Office,
secreted under the carpets, in flower
pots pigeon holes and other places.
Records of the daily receipts during the
n ri n nr,1
missing from the Office. In adj
dition to these. other records up
to the time of Harned's dismissal,
last November, are also gone, making it
impossible accurately to determine the
deficits. Brooks is short $4,000 in adj
ditiOn to illegal fees collected, amount
ing to another $4,000. All are spe-
officially charged with eXtortion, remov-
ing public records and classifying ac-
counts. There are 63S opium stamps miss
ing, valued at five dollars each, besides
a large number of Chinese return GER
tificates, which have become missing
since the passage of the Chinese restric-
ton act. Harmed and Beecher will be
arrested tomorrow and placed under
$4,000 bonds. They refuse to make any
Harmed is worth $4,000, and has many
warm personal friends about Puget
Sound.
Herbert F. Beecher and William
Harmed, indicted customs officials, filed
5000 bonds to-day. The trials are set
for next October. HarIed's bondsmen
are James Jones, Frank and Albert Bart
lett; Beecher's securities are F. w.
Pettygrove, C. w. Hunt, James Jones
and r. K. Labmer. The latter three
were ON the grand jury which in
number of sympathizing messages
to-day from all over the coast,
asserting confidence in his inno-
cence. Beecher has purchased the
steamship Libble and will commence
steambOating again next week OH his
old route, down among the lower sound
islands. The accused refused to make
statements. The best legal talent in
the territory have been procured for
10 of