The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-12
Investigation May Take Wider
Range Than Published Charges
Would indicate.
An Attempt May Be Made to Foist the Guilt Of
Other Peoples Transgressions on Shoulders
of Fugitive Treasurer Wright.

The grand jury yesterday began the
investigation of the B. H. Wright case
pear before that body today to give
evidence in the case of James H Boyd,
Superintendent of Public Works.
1t seems certain from some of the
witnesses who have been summoned
before the grand jury that the investi-
cations of the inquisitorial body will
cover a much wider range than is in
dicated in the stories of shortages
and defalcations already made public.
In the Wright case the two charges
cover the alleged theft of a $4,000
check from the Hawaiian Electric
Company and another shortage shown
by the books of the department,
amounting to about $4,000. This short
age will probably have to be proven by
witnesses who paid the money into the
ing in the cash account
Judge Wilcox, Andrew Brown, H. G.
Meyers and others were before the
grand jury yesterday in connection
with the B. H. Wright matter, which
necessarily involves the charges
brought against James H. Boyd. 1t is
very likely that the entire Department
of Public Works is being investigated
as whole, without reference to spe-
cifc charges, and that the grand jury
will make a report on the matter in
it's entirety, though any findings of in
dictments would, of course, be against
individuals.
Deputy Auditor Meyers, who signed
the complaints against both Boyd and
Wright, was before the grand jury the
greater part of the afternoon, having
with him the books of the Department
of Public Works, showing the alleged
shortages and irregularities in the con-
duct of the Office.
The Boyd investigation will cover
other matters aside from the Cooper
check transaction, and a number of
people who, it is known, had no con-
nection with that affair, have been
subpoenaed to appear today before the
grand jury in the case of Territory of
Hawaii VS.. James H. Boyd. AS far as
known, neither Governor Dole or Sec
retary Cooper has been called as wit
nesses. the facts within their knowl-
edge, probably, appearing also in the
evidence of Henry c. Meyers, the
deputy auditor.
Among the witnesses said to have
been summoneu to appear in the Boyd
case at today's session of the grand
jury are f.. A. Schaefer, August Dreier,
w. w. Ahana and Mrs. Mary Rose.
Some of these witnesses know some
thing about land transactions had with
the Department of Public Works, aside
from the Cooper matter. 1t is said
also that not only will the land ex
change made by DR.. Cooper with Su-
perintendent Boyd be investigated, but
the Davies & Co. transaction and the
land matter to settle which Mr.. Boyd
paid So, 100 into the Territorial treas
ury will also be looked into. The re-
payment of the $4,000 into the treasury
will, it is reported, not deter the grand
jury from making thorough investi-
CATION of these matters as well.
1t is whispered now that an effort
may be made to throw the re-
sponsibility for the Irregularities in
other officers upon the missing treas
urer, w. H Wright, who. not being
here, would be unable to contradict
any story that might be told. If the
defendants in either of the Public
Works cases could prove that that the
checks they are alleged to have taken
were paid over to Treasurer Wright
the prosecution would very likely fall