The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-10-03
WAINWRIGHT
IN TROUBLE
OVER FUNDS
Arrest Ordered of
Assessor at
Waimea.

Walter 4. Wright. former deputy tax
assessor for Waimea District, Kauai,
is alleged to be short in his accounts to
the amount of s2.siS.40. and an officer
left on the Kauai yesterday afternoon
with instructions to place him under
arrest This Wright is under bonds
and the Territory will consequently not
lose by the shortage. The report of the
defalcation was urst brought to Treas
urer Cooper yesterday by Il. T.. Conant,
Assessor for ;he Island of Kauai.
The EnorIage in Deputy Assessor
Wrights accounts was known to Treas
urer Wright some months ago and the
latter promised Assessor Conant that
it would be made good. 1t has been
persistcnty rumored since the flight of
the treasurer that the money taken by
him was not used for his personal
benefit, but to help others out Of trou-
bic. As far as this case is concerned
however, the treasurer evidently did
not seek to make IL good
Treasurer Wrights attention was
called to his brothers defalcation upon
his visit to Kauai some months ago,
and after an investigation, Walter a..
wright was suspended as deputy as
SCISSOR for Waimea district, and the
treasurer agreed to see that the short
age was made up. This was not done
and when the treasurer's sudden flight
from Honolulu became known In LIhue,
Mr.. COnant Immediately came to Homo
lulu to inform the authorities Of the
occurrence.
Secretary Cooper said yesterday that
the Territory would not lose anything
by this most recent defalcation, as
Wright was under bonds, and recovery
could be had from the bondsmen.
Criminal proceedings are also to be in
stituted charging Wright with en-
bezzlement and an officer was sent over
on the Kauai yesterday to arrest him.
The shortage in this instance, amount
ing to $2,S4S.4O is said to have occurred
in the failure of Wright to turn over
to the assessor the collections made by
him in the Waimea district.
THE AUSTIN CASE.
No new move was made in the Aus
tin case yesterday. \ warrant was
made out for Mr.. Austin for his SER
vices up to and including the 25th day
Of September, the date of his suspen-
sion, but it had not been called for yes
terday up to the hour of closing bust
ness. To the demand for salary for the
time including the suspension. Governor
Dole made reply which Is printed
elsewhere.
BOYD MAY COME TODAY.
Supt. j. H. Boyd of the Department
Of Public Works may come on the Ven
tura today though this is hardly likely
in view sf the news received by the
last steamer. When the China left san
Francisco Mrs. Boyd was still III and
when Mr.. Boyd started on his vacation
1t was the intention of remaining with
his wife until she recovered. At that
time he had received mail from the
Ventura and he should also have re-
ceived three days later news from the
Doric prior to the departure of the Ven
tura from San Francisco on her pres
ent trip. If Treasurer Wrights letter
was sufficiently urgent 1t is possible
that Boyd may return on tOdays
steamer.
In the meantime the employees in the
Department of Public Works are wor-
ryng considerably over the absence of
MI bpyu, lof until ne returns they can
receive no pay. Yesterday was the reg
ular pay day for government employees
and all but those i'm the Department
of Public Works received their salaries.
Treasurer Wright was given authority
to act for Boyd and as he Is gone there
is no head to that Department AS
consequence Auditor Meyers yesterday
refused to issue warrants as the audit
"A. iTas i,.n 80 hA
of the department, and without Boyds
signature or that OF some one acting
in his place, no warrants can be given
out under the law. About $4,000 in
salaries is tied up in the Public Works
Department, and unless Boyd comes
home today, an acting Superintendent
of Public Works will have to be APP
pointed.