The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-09
VICTIM Of
GAMBLING
Vivian Richardson Is
Arrested for
Theft.

Vivian Richardson, trusted employee
OF the Waterworks Department, was
placed under arrest yesterday on a charge
OF embezzlement OF public moneys. The
amount is not definitely known yet, but
is believed to be more than $4,000 Off
GERS of the government were engaged
ali day yesterday and last evening go
ing over Richardson's books, and the
exact amount will be known when the
case is brought up before Judge Dickey
this morning.
Richardson was arrested shortly be-
fore noon and taken to the police sta
ton where he remained for two or
three hours until released on bail in
the sum OF $1,000 with James H. Boyd
and Harry Arnitage as sureties. The
bond is good until o'clock this morn
ing when Richardson is to be produced
| in court.
Gambling is the cause of Richard
sons downfall. The harpies who have
been engaged in fleeing young men at
the joint on Fort street in which Will
liam Vida and Louis Schmidt admitted
to have worked, are sand to have Sc
cured much OF Richardson's, or the
Governments money, and there IS a
story of his having lost about $500 one
night at the Anchor saloon. This was
the same night on which Richardson IS
alleged to have gone to the Capitol
building, entered the Waterworks de-
partment and took from the safe the
Go IL
dice game. This money Richardson has
admitted having taken, but asserts it
was replaced the next day Richardson
admits having lost only $50 at the
Anchor saloon but the police and gov
erninent officials are certain the amount
was much larger. In this same game
an ex-employee of the Public Works
Department, who has been much in the
public eye of late, is said to have taken
part.
The shortage in Richardson's ac-
counts was discovered yesterday morn
ing, and the information was conveyed
to Governor Carter by Statistician
auckland Governor Carter immediate
ly sent for High Sheriff Brown. The
Governor stated Immediately on hearing
the news that he intended taking no
chances, and no matter whom the in
NcSllSdllOll StIuCk, the 1IldJteT WOuIQ De
pressed to the last degree.
Richardson was taken into custody
at once and an investigation of his ac-
counts was begun by Superintendent of
Public Works Holloway, Waternaster
Andrew Brown and Auditor Fisher.
A partial confession has been wrung
from Richardson and it is believed that
the case will go hard against him. The
alleged defalcations extend back over
a long period and may go considerably
over $4,000. The amounts are alleged
to have been distracted in small sums.
The young man has. been repeatedly
warned against gambling and drinking
by friends. A letter was sent to a |
prominent government official yester-
day afternoon in which the writer |
stated that these warnings had been !
constantly made, as his friends believed !
he was going the pace too rapidly.
Several gambling games have been
running III town of late in which Rich !
ardson is believed to have wagered
heavily
Vivian Richardson was appointed to
the responsible position of chief clerk
about the time that James Boyd was
promoted to the Superintendent of Pub (
1ic Works and w. H. Wright as Treas
urer Like the others he is a part
Hawaiian.