The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-26
OF POLICE
TO CAPTURE
WRIGHT
HIGH SHERIFF BROWN SATISFIED
THAT TREASURER LEFT ON THE
ALAMEDA-sOME TALK OF EX-
TRADITION.

From the information that has been
secured said High Sheriff Brown, Il
am satisfied that Wright escaped on
the Alameda Wednesday. He was seen
in the steerage of the Alameda in the
morning, talking to the steerage stew
ard. Evidently Wright was slowed
away aboard the boat by some one. 1t
was no ordinary case of slowing away
for the man who aided him was prob
ably we'll paid to do the work.
In the morning, l was requested to
| search for Wright. He had had an ap-
pointment to meet Secretary Cooper at
y o'clock, but when two hours and a
half rolled by without any sign of
Wright, the suspicious of people inter-
ested became aroused.
Il went aboard the Alameda in COM
pany with Captain Flint of the police
| department. We made a careful search
for Wright. The steerage and cabin
| departments were visited, the refri-
| gerating plant was examined and Cap
tain Flint went through all the other
| departments aboard the vessel even
going to the coal bunkers. Wright
might have been hidden in the coal for
all we know. We were not certain at
that time that Wright had gone aboard
the Alameda. 1t was simply to guard
| against the possibility of his trying to
escape by that means that we visited
the vessel Had 1 known what learn
ed by o'clock in the afternoon, the
vessel would have been tied up and the
most systematic search possible made
for Wright.
When we were unable to find any
trace of him after that search, the
boats hanging from the davits being
searched also, l left the vessel. Cap
tain Flint accompanied the boat out TO
the bell buoy, however, and returned
with the pilot. This trip was made on
the supposition that if Wright were
aboard, he might make his appearance,
although he evidently was well hidden
and kept out of sight long after the
vessel had gotten under way.
Il did not send any word to the San
Francisco authorities asking them to
look for Wright. There was no war
rant issued for him and as it was only
the bares- suspicion that the man
might have escaped by that means, no
action of that character was taken"
Accounts differ somewhat as to the
time that Wright was seen to board the
vessel. A number of people have been
seen and who recall having noticed
Wright on the Oceanic wharf in the
morning. The police are inclined to
| think that Wright boarded the boat as
early as 10 o'clock In fact it is re-
ported that Wright was seen on the
deck of the Alameda about that time.
1t is even thought that Wright was on
the Alameda as early as $3.50 a. m.
1t is possible that the missing man
might have boarded the Alameda early
in the morning and then left her again.
There is no question but he was seen
to sneak through the after freight port
hole about 11:30 q. m.
That the man was not found by the
police in their search is not surprising
1t is the easiest task in the world for
men aboard a steamship to hide a per-
son so that the persons searching the
vessel will never discover him. Too
many striking instances of this fact oc-
Cured during the palmy days u the
old opium smuggling ring. Evidently
there were a number of people in the
scheme to get Wright out of this port,
and as they, no doubt, stood in, they
were able without much trouble, to
Illustrate the efforts of the police to
discover the hiding place of the miss
ing treasurer.
If Wright went on the Alameda, as
seems to be generally accepted by gov
ernment officials and others that he did,
he will arrive in San Francisco Septem-
ber 80, six days before the next vessel
from this port, the Peru or the Sierra
arrives there. This will give him a big
start of the news of his defalcation.
His offense however is an eXtraditable
one, and the proceedings for his extra
dition will be the first proceedings for
eXtradition ever commenced by the
authorities of Hawaii or at least the
first for very long time. Usually sue
| cessful escape from Hawaii having
proved perpetual immunity to fleeing
criminals against Hawaiian laws. The
expenses of extradition have usually
proved more potent reason for action
than the Nervousness or seriousness of
the crime
A rnrrc,rN c.EN A n,Ic c.r,rc, A 1ncIrrrnNr