Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-22
BOGUS BULLION
Offered, but not Taken, at the
Philadelphia Mint.
A Fne-LOOlking Stranger Tries
to Pass Yellow Bars Which,
ifthey Were Gold, Would
be Worth $4,000.
Philadelphia Times.l

Philadelphia Times.l
Shortly before noon yesterday a
strikingly handsome and hashily at
tired stranger entered the mint and
remarked to the Waterman that he
desired to deposit some bullion. He
was directed to the weighing depart
ment, and as ne proceeded through
the corridors his commanding pres
ence attracted the attention of every
one, To all appearances the mar was
a typical western character. Tall in
figure, with a splendid physique, al
though a rather effeminate face,
strengthened only by a wavy blonde
moustache, he made an elegant ap-
pearanee. Upon his head was a broad
light SLOUGH hat, something on the
order of a Mexican sombrero, while
his shapely form was clothed in a
stylish suit of light color. A massive
gold chain hung cOnspicuously from
his vest pocket.
Reaching the weighing room he ap-
preached j. r. Dunglison, one of the
clerks, and, taking from the valise
which he carried, what appeared to
be three bars of gold, said: II wish to
deposit this gold. You can make out
the receipt in the name of Mr.. Ben
ners." When a deposit of gold or
silver is made at the mint, which is
almost an every day occurrence, the
bullion is weighed and the depositor
is handed a receipt for the gross
weight of the deposit in ounces. He
is then requested to call in three days,
when he receives the value Of the
bullion in currency, which has in the
meantime been determined by the
assayer.
Upon taking hold of one of the
bars handed him by the stranger, Mr..
Dunglison noticed at once that it was
entirely too light to be gold, and upon
a close examination he became salts
fed that the bar was net composed of
the genuine metal. When the stran-
ger was quietly informed that the bars
were worthless, he became somewhat
excited, and said: "Ohl they must be
gold. Why, l purchased them from
Yellowstone miners, and one of them
was a particular friend of mine.
There must be some mistake about
the examination"
To show him that they were spuri
Gus a bar was taken to Jacob G. Eek
teldt, assistant assayer, who critically
examined it and pronounced it to be a
combination of copper, zinc and tin.
The stranger appeared to be uneasy
by this time and departed to see Col
Onel Snowden. After relating to that
official how he had purchased the
bars the man said: II know they are
genuine, because | bored one Of them
myself, and here's the metal to prove
it."
With that he produced a small
amount Of gold shavings, which, upon
being assayed by Patterson Dubois,
assistant assayer, were found to be the
true metal. This apparently altered
the case somewhat in the strangers
but the advantage was only
of short duration, for whcn Mr.. Eek
feldt assayed a portion Of the bar from
which the gold was said TO have been
bored the result proved beyond doubt
that the bar was spurious. Confront
ing the stranger with the result of his
assay, Mr.. Eckfeldt said: Here's
what / get out of your bar-nothing
but brass shayings.' 81
There's a mistake somewhere.
replied the man, "for the bar
was tested this morning by a jeweler."
thus contradicting himself fatty. He
then went on in a most dramatic man
ner: VI don't mind the loss of the
gold so much" said he, but | hate to
be taken in so by a man who called
himself my friend"
Alter spending over an hour at the
mint, during which time he repeated
\ cOntradicted himself, he departed.
The officials at the mint are satisfied
that the mar is a swindler, although
his manner was very plausible. They
are Of the opinion that the stranger
expected the clerk to receive the
bogus bullion, giving the customary
receipt, which he would endeavor to
dispose Of at a discount. For the in.
formation Of swindlers, however,, it
may be stated that these %receipts are
not negotiable, as the person who
makes the deposit must appear person.
ally to make the settlement.
Had the bars presented Yesterday
been genuine, they would have been
worth fully $4,000. Frequently bar.
ties call at the mint with base metal
as if to pass it there, but in every
ease the spurious article is detected
II has not been a long while since a
box Of metal, alleged to be gold, was
received at the mint by express. ac.
companied by instructions to deposit
it and transmit a receipt to the sender
A glance at the metal was sufficient To
convince that it was worthless. and
that it had been sent with a felonious
intention.
Miracle Worker in Dis favor.