The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-08-21
AN OLD.TIME ROBBERY OF
HONOLULU CUSTOM HOUSE

Two people having little argument Yesterday rs TO whore
the jewels stolen from Mrs Sam Parker had gone the likelihood
OF their ever being discovered when odmer appeared
Honolulu he said "h been the any very great
obben and think that the first big robbery that in these
Islands was about as large has been since
on Monday morning in March, 1858. this community was
startled by an announcement that the Custom House robbed
of some $4,000 As told at that time the story the robbery
to the effect that Mr. Warren Gooda Collector of Customs
had in his office small iron safe which was his custom TO place
the received dues until they later be removed to
big vault in another portion of the Custom House the Govern
ment treasury The key of this safe he always pocket
HOW SAFE KEY WAS SECURED
Now in those days believe that CUSTOMARY for the
until Monday morning At the time this happening everything was
done on the Saturday preceding the robbery Collector
Mr. Goodae took off the he had preceding day
He left them hanging in his bedroom and the key Custom House
safe remained in the pockets of them There they remained during
the day and when he and his family left home go in the
evening nothing had been touched Returning ten o'clock
the pair Of pants that contained the safe key He the
yard outside of his home but the key missing immediately
went to the police station He told his story Swnon and that
oca and policeman hastily repaired to the Custom with
nm Neither OF the three supposed that the kew
to visit the Custom House.
CAPTAIN OF WATCH ASLEEP
They went around the Custom building and everything
looked all right They questioned the there and he
stated that nothing had happened way during the evening
Then they thought wise to enter the budn@ and look At tho f
make But the sentry would not let them open the door until
he had notified his captain He found official asleep on the
Ganda OF residence that at that time stood the
FINALLY they entered and in the Collectors room they mme
atey found evidence that robbery had The safe had
been opened and the that had been small bags in was
missing The empty bags found the floor course the
tlef or thieves had used other coin Matches
were scattered about the The iron shutter office window
was open and near by lay ooper hammer ball of sail Irvine
here were other evidences about showed that consider
able work had been done the by the robbers But
the safe locked and the until the next av when
1t was discovered in pile of refuse
1T was stated at the time that the senes ON duty
mad tailed to capture the robbers it was hot
sitting night and that they likely all very rowsy during the
VIII 1n ona yp1oo
MADE A RICH HAUL
"A rich haul was made by the lighfngered gentry great
e porton OF the money they secured $40
these they took about SIS 900 which belonged government and
1913 OF Mr. Goodaes private funds reward of 81 900 was i'm
meaey offered by the Marshal for capture the thieves and
return OF the stolen Three weeks agggatng
some $4,000 had been offered for the capture of cupr
u would not be positive but think perpetrators of that
robbery caught.
From an old file of the Advertiser secured statement that this
was the first big robbery in the Islands and that more alarm
ing because 1T happened in building which oensbly guarded
by the Hawaiian and that should teach public to take more
personal measures for the protection of their property have less
confidence IN the police At that great
many ships IN port and suppose that the booty easily taken away