The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-28
LEAK IN A TREASURY SAFE.
4 DISCOVERY THAT AST0NISHED And
ALARMED THE SECRETARY.

MA. Found Outside TINT Had Been Receiptod
For as Returned to the sare-An Unex-
planned Mystery-Custodisn Bell Dismissed
WASHINGTON, May 2.--It seems that dies
and plates can DO abstractcd from the safe or
,flce Of the Bureau OF Printing and Engrav-
ing although the officer may take oath that
this is impossible. This was proved by dis
oovery which has sent a cold chill down Secre-
tary Folger's back for n day or two. and which
has resulted In the peremptory discharge to-
day OF the custodian OF the safe and
plates. II seems that on Thursday even
ing last. Mr.. CASTELAR,. Superintendent OF the
bureau. as he wasl dutting the building. sawia
little parcel lying on table which attracted his
attention. It was done UP in newspaper He
opened the package and found within two dies.
They wero dies of the figure 10. made by the
geometric lathe work. They were among the
choicest and supposedly most previously guard
cd Of the bureaus plates and dies. No one was
In the building at the time besides Mr.. CASTELAR,
and the Waterman. The custodian. G. W. Bell
had gone home.
BY the system Of protection adopted the GUS
todlan is responsible directly to the Secretary
OF the Treasury. He and the Secretary alone
know the combination Of the safe. He is re-
sponsible for the safety Of the plates and dies.
He receives orders from no one but the Secre-
tary. In the morning 1t is his duty to open the
safe and take therefrom such plates and dies
as he may be requested to deliver on reauisi-
ton OF the Superintendent. He receives
receipts for these. In the evening he must see
that all plates and dies thus given out are re-
turned. and he receives receipts therefor The
receipts are compared. and when this is done
the safes are locked.
On Thursday evening Bell receipted for the
plates and dies-all Of them. including these
two that CASTELAR, found. CASTELAR, fastened at
once to Chief OF the Bureau Irish. told him the
circumstances, and delivered the dies to him.
Tho two went to Secretary Folger and gave
him the dies. and told him the story. The Sec
rotary was astonished and alarmed. In the
first place the discovery OF the dies showed
that it was possible to abstract plates and
dies from the safes. Notwithstanding they had
all been accounted for under the safeguar DIS
adopted. In the second place these dies with
the geometric lathe work are the most difficult
bits OF engraving successfully to counterfeit.
The Secretary decided at once that tho dies
must be destroyed. They were out Nobody
knew whether they had been used or not
probably not but absolute safety required
their destruction.
On Friday morning the Secretary sent for
Bell and asked for these two dies. Bell re-
ported that while his receipts were all right he
could not find the dies. He professed the
greatest establishment that they should be
missing. No explanation was made to him.
In the evening he was about to close the safe.
and he received orders that he could
not do SO until he had reported
about the missing dies. or given some
explanation for their absence. or course
he could not do this. at least could not return
the dies. and later In the evening the Secretary
sent trusted official over to the bureau with a
new combination for the safe. The safe WAS
locked by the new combination. To-day Bell
was discharged although he protested entire
ignorance as to how the dies could have been
removed.
This discovery shakes the faith OF the Secre-
tary in the integrity with which other plates
and dies have been kept. Although an investi-
cation has been going on for two days. the Sec
rotary as yet has been wholly unable to find any
clue as to the manner in which the dies were
distracted. They must either have been left
where they were through fear Of discovery. or
by accident TO some part OF the plan for remov-
one Is so closely watched The Investigation
will be carried on as thoroughly as is possible.