The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-08-01
STORY OF TWO
YEARS GRAF TING
CONTINUED from page one.)

entered as paid is one dating back to
February II, 1903. 1t is the estate of
Keauolani and has long since been
closed w as far as the courts were
concerned. The sum of $1O,25 is still
due on an advertising account, however
and an examination of the records of
the case this morning showed that
while the sum is included in Kelletts
final accounts as a charge against the
estate, there is no voucher for it, 1t
is still unpaid by Kelett, though paid
to him by the estate.
Since then there have been numerous
other items of similar nature. Those
which are known aggregate about $3.50.
In one estate after another the clerk
has filed reports showing payments
charged to estates though he had never
made the payments. In some cases
he filed with his reports unreceipted
bills and these are still in the files. In
others no bills at all were filed but the
amounts are in the final accounts as
| paid. Each of these accounts is sworn
to as correct, by Kellett. Among some
of the items are bills due The Star ag-
gregating sos. As, for publication of
| legal notices. Similar sums are due
to the other local papers, and in the
same way appear by the records of the
courts to be paid.
| Kellett was under bonds as a clerk
of the circuit court, but as administra-
tor or commissioner in the various mat
ters in which he acted he was under
a separate bond in each case. The
bonds have all been cancelled in the
cases which have been closed up, the
final accounts having been filed and
approved. In the Barete matter the
bond is missing.
Judge De Bolt expressed the greatest
surprise this morning at the condition
of Kellett's affairs. 1T would be inn
possible to get a successor in whom
could have more confidence he said
Mr.. Kellett was apparently az
faithful and reliable a clerk as could
be had He was very attentive to his
duties and always ready with court
matters. No clerk could possibly have
kept things in better shape than he did
and 1 thought his financial affairs were
the same.
Il could not help remarking when
heard of the state of affairs that
|
out a clerk, for the shock of finding
such a man in such predicament is
calculated to encourage worry o.
course there are many matters which {
judge must leave to a clerk, and M
clerk ever seemed more Trustworthy
than Kellett."
The exposure of I[elletts financia
demolition came about Indirectly through
a motion filed about a month ago ask
ing that the court order him to fill,
accounts in the Barete estate. His ac
counts had not been filed for some tim,
and the heirs of the estate employed w
c. Achi to file a motion asking that n
be directed to account. The motion
was filed in Judge De Bolts court, bu
it was placed in Judge Robinson
hands, as the fiji ng was during hi
term as judge in chambers.
Kellett did not appear to be at al
disturbed by the motion to compel ar
accounting. He talked of the matter
with his associates and to court news
papermen, taking the attitude that il
was mere matter of form. Judge
De Bolt mentioned the matter to hin
also, stating that it was a matter fol
| y
cial comment He proceeded to pre-
pare accounts without resisting the
motion and the accounts were referred
in the regular order of business tC
Clerk NJ. T. Simonton whose discoveries
exposed the state of affairs which led tC
Kellett's discharge and arrest.
The arrest of Kellett was due il
large part to steps taken by the acting
governor, it is said. Late yesterday
afternoon Atkinson had a conference
with Judge Robinson and County At
torney Douthitt, and it is said that the
criminal prosecution that immediately
followed was due to the executives
urging that action be taken at once.
The commissions due auctioneers ar
also said to have been left unpaid b,
Kellett, though charged in the variou
cases in which he 9cted as commits
sioner or administrator,