The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-01-23
After NATION Had Padded Pay
Rolls, Luna, Il Is Said, Added
His Ralze-ofI.

(Mail Special to The Advcrtisor)
HIIO, January lQ.-When the grand
jury goes into session before Judge
Parsons next month, the matter of the
Papaaloa plantation graft win be
opened again. R. w. Breekons, who
appeared for the prosecution in behalf
Of the Lanpahoehoe Sugar Company,
has reason to believe that others were
involved in the defaleations, whereby
the plantation lost many hundreds of
dollars, and the case Of another former
plantation employee, part Hawaiian
luna, win be brought before the in
QUESTION, Breckons feeling certain
that the evidence he has win warrapt
the finding Of a true bin against this
man.
The graft was worked in very sim
pie manner. It looks as il both David
Mattoon, who was last week sent TO
Jail FOR fourteen months on his plea
Of guilty, md the luna mentioned,
worked This graft, but that each played
q lone hahu, doing his own independent
graiting, '.s.ouga they appear TO have
ASen an~fe " the POPULATIONS Of each
other.
The plantation received the time Of
contract gangs from the luna, who took
the time on q card, which he handed
in at the plantation Office. He credited
the gangs with 80 many hours Of work
done during the week, and this amount
the timekeeper, Nation, entered on q
general time sheet, showing the distri-
button Of labor, and crediting each
gang with the amount OF time, and
corresponding pay, due il On the
basis Of these figures the plantation
paid the gangs.
II seems that the luna and Mattoon
each sweetened the labor account in his
turn. The luna would, for instance.
give a contract gang several hundred
hours a week more credit than was due
it. A case il mentioned where he cred
tied contracting gang with time,
making an amount OF about $3.50 due
It in excess of what ii had really earn
ed. Then, il is said, the contractor was
paid the $3.50 cxtfa, and couple OF
days later the luna collected 1920 OF
the amount, letting the contractor keep
$50 as his share.
When the luna had sweetcnod the
time cards TO suit his taste be turned
them in to Nation, who then took his
turn at thcm. lie would, however,
have TO alter the figures on the luna's
time cards in order TO make them CON
form with the raised entries which he
piaeed ON the general time sheet. 9th.
erwise his modus oporandi was the
same as that described as having been
practiced by the luna.
Prosecutor Brcckons did some very
clever and Interesting work in compar,
ing the hg~res as written by the luna
and as va by Mattooh. He has
reduced his conclusions and obserya-
lions into q form so concrete that if
the case ever comes to trial, he will be
able TO give The jury some very cutter.
tanning lessops in fret steps In the de-
lection OF handwriting changes, show.
ing how the luna's figures and those
Of Nation differ
The nnn mentionets was suspected BY
Brcckons when the case against Mat
toon was first brought up, and, as .
matter Of fact, Mhttoop, when he con.
iSssed 70 his own crime, eamitted that
INC luna had been guilty Of the same
nt''N " VieftiNcs W hllt SONY eNlucuNt
YVES secured from one OF two Of the
contractors, which would probably
have been sufficient 10 secure an indiot-
ment aRainst the luna, Brecko1s
thought the case might haye q doubtful
issue, should he bring it before q Jury,
SO he decided to wait. n
Last week when Mattoon was sen.
fenced, he asked the permission Of.
BEeekons that he be allowed to return
to his homo at Laupahoeboe in order
that lie might get some Of his clothes,
before he entered the Jail. BreckohS
answered that Mattoon was now In the
custody Of The sheriff, and that Is far
as he himself was concerned Mattoon
might 90 home.
Consequently MatEoon went TO Tau.
pphoehQe He remained there over
night When he returned, he sent for
Rreekops He told him that be had
used his stay at Lapnahoehoe to advan-
tpge, as II had enabled him to secure
the evidence which Breck0ps needed To
inaIrf out o case which was satisfactory
to him. AS consequence Breckons
decided TO bring the matter before the
grand jury.