Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-13
TREASURY ROBBERY.
Lead and Shot, Instead OF Silver Dol
lars, in Boxes from New Orleans.
SURPRISE AT THE TREASURY pEPARrMKNr-rHE
ROBBERY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sTIAIiNo-
INVESTIGATING THE LOSS.

Inc treasury omclals have discovered til at
they have been robbed Of new silver dollars.
To what extent or by whom they do not yet
know. The secret service detectives are max
ing an investigation. The robbery was dis
covered several days ago, and it has been kept
an intense secret until The STAR learned Of the
loss to-day. The mint at New Orleans has been
overloaded with new silver coin, and to
relieve it the department is shipping
millions of dollars to Washington to
be stored in the new silver vault
in the Treasury courtyard. The money is
shipped in sealed wooden boxes, each contain
ing two bags of a thousand dollars each. When
one Of these boxes was opened at the depart
ment a day or two ago it was found to contain
nothing but shot. A second box was opened,
and one OF the bags in it was found to contain
nothing more valuable than lead.
INVESTIGATING THE LOSS.
The matter was at once reported to the Sec
Rotary and by him referred to the secret serv-
ice officers, who are making q careful and
active investigation. The boxes are carefully
sealed before they leave the mint and are
guarded on the train. They are taken from
the depot at Washington to the Treasury build
ing In large express wagon, Gagged in ON all
sides with heavy steel wire and guarded by
representatives of the express company and Of
the Treasury, who are heavily armed and sit
on the boxes within the cage. Every care that
can be thought Of is taken to guard against
loss, and the detectives are puzzled to know
the silver dollars. They are shipping a great
amount OF silver, and it is impossible to tell at
once how extensive the robbery has been. The
express company are responsible for any loss
while In their hands.
SYSTEMATIC STEALING.
The loss was first brought to the attention Of
Acting Secretary Thompson ON Wednesday
morning, the day after the election, and he
put the detectives at work at once. Further
investigation showed that small amounts had
been taken from each of a number Of boxes.
The indications are that there is systematic
stealing being done, and it may amount to a
large sum, but how large they are unable to
estimate.
The department will probably hold that the
express company is responsible, but it will
take some time to learn the extent Of the loss
THE ROBBERY WAS DISCOVERED
when the seals of the boxes were examined. It
was found that instead of the Government seal
put on at the mint at New Orleans, the wax
bore the impression of silver quarter. The
original seal had been broken, the money abb
stracted, and this method of hiding the fraud
had been resorted to.
Mr. Bell chief of the secret service, says that
he believes the thieving was certainly done
after the boxes left the mint and before they
were delivered at this department. He says the
EXPRESS COMPANY Is RESPONSIBLE.
II the official clerks doing up the packages
had done the stealing they could have used the
government seal to fasten the boxes again.
MIR. Bell has on his desk some of the shot
that were found in one of the boxes They are
new No. 6 and No. mixed, and were probably
bought for the purpose to which they were APP
piled