New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01
NEN-1 DKk tATATUNIE No, -oU,
CUSTOM House, NEw-IORK, March II, 1883.
l,ushInr's Dfficn

Uift Cd states notes. Si0OO W
Gold certificates. 2lOO0 90
silver &c certiiicates. ........... 800
Gold 5000 90
silver coin. Observation-Disclosures. 25l 33
Total. ........................s3 s3O25l SO
These tickets are handed in with the money.
They are turned face down by the receiving teller,
and he money is passed to two persons near him.
who count 1t before looking ut the amount on the
ticket. When they have finished counting
comparison Is made with tho ticket,
and if 1t is correct they place their checks
upon it, Near the "counters" are two cages
ore of which is called the bill cage" and the
other the "coln cage" All tho paper
money is handed to man in the
"blIl cage" and the coin to 90 il
the "coin cage These men ia turn co.
they receive corresponds wit The sums tho
tickets and they keep the money untll ready for de-
pOst at the close of business IN the sub treasury
GOLD CERTIFICATES MISSING.
On March II tho money paid to the receiving
teller corrcsponded exactly with the amount of du-
tics entered whilo ho "cnrntere" found no
errors in the tick -, aud the total of the money
counted in the two "cagcsn correspondcd exactly
with the amount ma should be there and with the
tickets and the totals OF the Counters" But when
they came to count the money again for
deposit in the Sub Treasury, $4,000 in gold certit
Gates which had been paid into the "coIn cage"
was missing After rccounting the money several
tunes and nal ng a vain search for the missing cer
tiGcaics the cashier Obliged to send the deposit
to tho ub-Ircasnry minus the $9,OOO
THE COLL TORS INVESTIGATION
n. :, was imu liately reported to Collector
BE-. ton and he informed the Secretary of the
I asury and the President They authorized him
to take all necessary steps to in
yestigate the matter, and since that time,
il connection with expert accountants and detec-
tivcs he has been trying to ascertain W hat became
oil the gold certificates. The books and tickets have
all been gone over several times, aud no errors
have been discovered, and the checks of the men
III the bill cage" show the receipt of the $4,000 IN
missing certificates there appears to be little chance
that the deficiency was the result of an
error. There were three persons in that cage"
counting money, on March y: Major j. H.
jenkins, q well-knOwn and highly respected
citizen OF Westchester County Benjamin RUSSELL
brother Of State senator Russell and cousin of At
torney- General Russell and George A. Bennett, who
were other persons who counted the money, but
they were not IN the cage. II. .. Outer;
bridge is the teller, and John 4: 4; Newell
James Hoffman, the cashier, who has long been
IN the Custom House, is under $780,
900 bonds and will, technically, be responsible
able that he will be called upon to make it good,
he cOuld not III any way have prevented it,
PREVIOUS LOSSES IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
When President Arthur was Collector of the Port
he lost So 900 in a similar manner, and bill was
introduced in the last Congress to reimburse him for
the loss. During Collector Mcrritts term 5000 was
distracted from an envelope in the safe in the
cashiers office, and 800 and 800 were lost at
different times IN one OF the cages" These sums
were made up by General Merritt and his sub0r-
dinates in the cashiers Office.
Soon after Collector Robertson came INTO Office
So 900 was lost in the bill cage" and $500 was
lost at another time from one of the cages"
There has been a partial change in the force by
transfers since those losses occurred.
WHAT TUE COLLECTOR SAYS.
Collector Robertson said to a TRIBUNE reporter
last night that he dong everything possible to
ascertain where the missing certificates are. The
banks and other financial institutions were asked
TO look out for the certificates at the time of tho
loss. lie found it difficult to believe that
any of the Custom House employees
had taken tho money, and yet the
system of counting was so perfect that it was hard
10 see how the loss could bo The result of error.
Yet tnat might be possible. He did not want to re-
feet on any subordinate, therefore ho had given
orders that nothing be SAID in regard to the matter
untIl Inc had concluded his investigation.
Cashier Hoffman was evidently very much de-
pressed over tho loss and he had been called away
from his Office by the death of his sister on the very
day whoa the loss occurred he could not give any
furtheE teeornation in regard TO the matter. The