The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-03-11
VICTIM OF
GAMBLING
Vivian Richardson Is
Arrested for
Theft.

Vivian Richardson, trusted employee
OF the Waterworks Department, was
placed under arrest yesterday on charge
OF embezzlement of public moneys. The
amount is not definitely known yet, but
is believed TO be more than $4,000 Ofti-
GERS OF the government were engaged
all day yesterday and last evening 60
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 II. Boyd
and Harry Armtage as sureties. The
bond is good until 9 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
to have worked, are said to have Sc
cured much of Richardson's, or the
Government money, and there is a
story of his having lost about $500 one
night at the Ancnor 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
sum OF 500, which was also lost i'll a
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
ernment 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
vestigation struck, the matter would be
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. Watermastcr
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 i'll town OF late i'll 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
] lie Works and w. II. Wright as Treas
urer. Like the others he is part
| Hawaiian