Bank in American Samoa

6 Samoans Charged

Bank in American Samoa Loses 30,000 Dollars

Pago Pago, Feb. 26.

fTSHE Bank of American Samoa I, was closed for five days (Feb ruary 18-22), after bank defalca tions were noted by the Manager, Mr. Alan D. Bigelow, who has held this office since June, 1956.

Accounts are still being checked and losses at first reported to be $15,000 have now risen to $30,000.

Four men were at first named as being under suspicion—Lopeti S.

Malepeai (assistant cashier, married, five children); Evile Tofili (head teller, married); Enose Matina and Fuauli Falo (both tellers, and single).

Acting Governor Alan D. Mac- Quarrie revealed that the first three named had made voluntary con fessions. He said evidence indicated that embezzlement had been going on for three or four years.

A further check implicated two more employees, Sala’i and Emau and they joined the other four arraigned and all face court charges on March 18.

Governor Peter T. Coleman, of American Samoa, has been away in the US conferring with the US

Congressional Appropriation Com mittee in regard to his 1958 Budget.

He was in San Francisco when he heard of the bank scandal. An additional State employee, Mr.

James McCabe, of the American Trust Company, is being assigned to American Samoa to assist Mr.

Bigelow, for at least one year.

t Auckland City Council is coj cerned because some Islanders living there under overcrowded coc ditions. Chairman of the Propee and Health Committee (Cr. J.

Whittaker), heard reports from A. S. Wallace (medical officer) s arranged a conference with otf bodies affected.