The Inspector Who Rode Free: Seattle's Steamboat Watchdog on Trial

The investigation of the charges against Local Inspector W. J. Bryant seems likely to be long drawn out, if the defense calls as many witnesses as have testified for the prosecution. A great mass of evidence was heard by Inspector Bermingham yesterday, the witnesses giving specific instances of favoritism in the granting of licenses; of Bryant's owing his official position to his business as agent for the sale of life-preservers and as a marine insurance agent; and of his riding free on steamers and getting free meals and sleeping berths, yet charging the government for them. The most important witness was Leslie Cullom, special agent of the treasury department, who told of his own investigation of Bryant a year ago and of the admissions the latter made in a written statement to him.

As soon as Inspector Bermingham called the assemblage to order he said he desired to go on record that there must be no more attempts on the part of the prosecution to intimidate witnesses for the defense after they left the room.

William Williamson, a steamboatman and master for nineteen years in the Puget Sound district, testified that on February 8 Capt. Bryant allowed the mate on the Rosalie to act as pilot while running from Seattle to Victoria — the permission given in order to cut down expenses.

Capt. G. H. Smith, a master aged 61 and a resident of Puget Sound for nineteen years, told of an incident when the steamer Tana was inspected. After Bryant inspected the steamer, Smith said he would go on the wharf and buy some life-preservers. Bryant replied that he would not pass them. Smith said the life-preservers were of rubber tubing and had been passed by the New York inspector. Bryant told him that fellow would take out the tubes and stuff the life-preservers with straw. The witness went to Harrington Smith's and paid twenty cents apiece more for the life-preservers than they would have cost had he bought of Bryant's concern.

The prosecution called for the license issued to Capt. William Gove on January 17, 1893, allowing him to navigate the tug Dec from Olympia to the sea and return, and a later license raising his grade to coastwise waters. The prosecution held that a rise in grade like the one given Capt. Gove could not be made without a written examination under the law, and the clerk of the board could find no trace of such papers.

When Treasury agent Cullom was recalled, he stated that Bryant had told him he traveled a great deal but did not pay cash for transportation, meals and berths because he repaid the companies by working overtime, inspecting steamboats on Sundays and other personal service, and that his salary was so low he could not live on it and keep out of debt. In his answer to the charges Bryant denied everything that he could deny.

Capt. F. N. Bruce swore that after the insurance on his boat expired, Bryant asked to be allowed to reinsure her though Bruce had already made other arrangements. A few days later Bruce received a letter from Cullom informing him that Bryant had directed them to insure his vessel. Bruce called on the agent he had insured with, who said he would make it all right with Bryant; subsequently he was told Bryant had been given one-half of the agent's commission on the vessel. When Bruce's boat burned in January and he asked Bryant for a renewal, Bryant refused. Bruce applied to Inspector Bermingham at San Francisco, who wired Bryant; the next day Bryant reissued the license — but the certificate did not come until March.

Capt. Frank Worth, a master mariner of forty years, testified that Bryant was very arbitrary and partial. The hearing was adjourned until 10 o'clock the following morning.