The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-09-19
LARGE SUM
Of MONEY
IS MISSING
Wrisht's Shortage
Said to Be
$500.

A second charge Of embezzlement Of
government monies amounting 20
ss.52lO. will be brought against b. II.
Wright. late chief clerk in the Public
Works Department, within a few days.
This. il is said. is the amount OF the
shortage so far discovered by Deputy
Auditor Henry Myers I'm his eXamina-
tion of the books of the imprisoned
clerk. which. with the first charge OF
embezzlement of s.. 2S9.53 makes a total
of over s., 500.
Deputy Auditor Myers is still at work
upon the books. but is extremely reti-
cent as to the discoveries so far made.
The total of the shortage as now ascer-
tained may not include all the irregu-
Iarities in the finances Of the Public
Works Department, as the examination
has not been entirely completed. The
amount as above given IL said to be
the shortage as shown by Wrights
own books. 1t is the practice to keep
large sums of money In the safe at the
Public Works Department there being
considerable amount collected daily.
and though this money should have
been turned over to the treasurer every
evening il was not done, some of II
being required for current expenses.
The amount OF cash which should have
been on hand was short $5.252.1O and II
Is with the embezzlement OF this
amount that Il. H. Wright is now to be
charged.
The first charge Of embezzlement up
on which Wright was originally arrest
ed was for money alleged to have been
taken at one time, within the past
month or two. This was for 80, ,2S953,
and it Is said was the amount collected
by Wright for the Territory from the
Hawaiian Electric CO., being the gov
ernment's share of the corporation s
profits during the year. The amount
was paid by a check upon Spreckels'
Bank and was cashed by Wright,
though the whereabouts of the money
has not so far been ascertaned.
Money Is paIG into the Department
OF Public Works from many different
sources. Sewer and garbage charges
annually reach large amount, In addi-
tion to which are rents from the city
market and various other sources. All
this money passes through the hands
OF the chief clerk and an accounting
should be made with the Treasurer at
least once a month.
J. II. Boyd. Superintendent Of Public
Works, who left for San Francisco on a
vacation of two or three months early
In September, has been summoned Ia
return because OF the developments In
the Wright case.
"BUTTING-IN" OF GEAR.
Judge Wilcox scored Judge Gear in
the District Court yesterday morning
aNhan IN. 4f u III Wright fthnTR-
ed with embezzlement, came up for
trial in the forenoon. Wright was not
present when his name was called and
one OF his attorneys. Davis, asked for
a continuance, but Judge Wilcox sug-
gested that such "A motion should not
be made unless the defendant was in
court. He was ordered to be brought
into court. Davis again took the floor
TO urge his motion, saying that the con-
t.nuance was asked only for the pur-
pose OF preparing for trial. The High
Sheriff, who is at present conducting
the prosecution. said he was averse to
having the case continued beyond the
present week. He was willing TO have
the case continued for a brief time.
however, as he expected to be assisted
by one OF the deputies from the At
torney Generals office.
Judge Wilcox then gave his opinion
Of Judge Gears "butting-in" on the
case before he had disposed Of IT, He
said he was anxious to get the case up
for trial lie was the committing mag
istrate, He stated emphntically that
the Circuit Court had begun meddllug
with the case In a way which he did
not believe il had right 10 do. He
had named bail in a certain sum but
Judge Gear had seen III 90 put his I'm
ger In the matter. and he preferred to
get AT the case and turn Il over 10 the
Judge who seemed so anxious TO have
IL brought before him
Davis jumped TO his feet and blstered
his lips in endeayorng TO make an ora
tion on legal procedure and habeas cor
pus matters. lie wanted TO secure his
witnesses,
Judge WILCOX finally granted the con.
tinuance because certain members ol
the Attorney Generals department
were busy with matters which Woulc
cause some delay in their reaching th,
Wright ease, The continuance wal
granted uutil Tuesday morning az s;2
O'Clock Up 10 a late hour yesterdal
Wright had not been released iron
prison
st.