Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16
THE MINT ROBBERY,
Superintendent Preston Makes a
Statement of the Facts.
A TRUSTED EMPLOYEES FALL.
He Took $I34,O0 but Has Re.
turned 100000.
Fl w 1T W AS NE


The mystery over the singular disappear.
ance of $134OOO in gold from the Phila6el.
phia mint has been cleared up. 1t was
stolen by trusted employe named Henry
S. Cochran and he has restored $10o. 1000
with the promise of making good the de
felt. Mr.. Preston, the acting director OF
the mint who went to Philadelphia yester
day to investigate the matter. returned
this morning and reported all the facts te
Secretary Carlisle. The case was surround
ed with an almost impenetrable wall OF
mystery and Importance all the forenoon
and 1t was not until late this afternoon
that Mr.. Preston was permitted to open his
mouth to newspaper men on the subject
The facts had gradually leaked out from
different quarters and 1t was finally con-
cluded best to let the public know exactly
what had occurred. Mr.. Preston accord
ingly gave out the following carefully pre-
pared statement of the affair:
Mr.. Preston's Statement.
The exact facts in relation to the reported
loss Of gold bullion from the mint at Phila-
delphia are stated at the Treasury Depart
ment today to be that on account Of the
demand for coin a vault in which some $16-
VU,UUV was StOTcu III 1000 Oy Gui. AOoeoAA
during the term of Mr.. Fox as superin-
tendent, and which was receipted for by
Mr.. o. c. Bosbyshell without weighing, was
opened on the 8th instant and the bullion
weighed by Mr.. Morgan. when IT was iouma 1,
to be thirty bars short. valued at about
1884, 900. Mr.. Morgan Immediately reported
to the mint bureau the results. when ne
was directed to return to Philadelphta at
once and rewelgh the bullion.
ION the second weighing 1t was still
found to be short. Since this bullion was
stored in the vault the weigh clerk an oio
employe Of the mint, had sole custody OF IT,
and circumstances indicating that ne knew
what had become Of the missing bullion.
he was charged with its embezzlement. and
finally admitted 1t: he furnished informa-
ton as to where over 100000 OF 1t was Sc
and more will be recovered today. as he ex-
pressed a willingness to give 1t up, but as
to how much cannot be accurately stated
but probably between 5000 and N,OU. II
is believed at the Treasury I'"pnr. .men'
This statement is made in order to allay
all sensational news.
Only One Previous Robbery.
The only record of a previous robbery OF
the Philadelphia mint is that of the stealing
a few years ago of a bar of silver worth
Sl,20o 1t was subsequently recovered In
New York. and the refining department
was reimbursed for the loss by act OF Con-
gress.
responsible for this later loss, but Ii tech
ntcally bound by his receipt for the whole
amount Of bullion alleged to be In the vault
It came to him from Alexander M. FOX.
who had receipted for 1t in the same way.
The vault in which the gold is short had,
when It was sealed in 1887. about SIG. 200 0oO
in gold bullion.
D. NJ. Fox was superintendent Of the mint
at that time and o. c. Bosbyshell sue
ceeded him in November. 1889. receipting
for the gold in the sealed vault without
weighing 1t. The shortage was discovered
opened for the purpose Of coming the bull
The superintendent Of the mint at Phila-
delphia Is under bond Of 100000 The bonds
Jas Dodson, DR.. F. L. s. Filbert and Gen.
VIM. Lilly. each of whom Is man OF
wealth.
The Man Responsible.
At the time the slS 900 gold was weighed
and deposited in the vault Mr.. Henry s..
Cochran was chief of the deposit weigh
room and he still holds that position. He
was the custodian Of the gold vault and has
been directly responsible for its contents
since the transfer was made. An examina-
ton Of the vault shows that the gold was
not taken out after the vault was sealed.
The vault is isolated with 14-inch brick walls.
steel-lined. and the gold was contained In
be clear, therefore, that the robbery was
committed at the time Of the transfer from
New York In 1887, and that by some means
Superintendent Fox was misled into receipt
ing for 5000 more ounces Of gold than were
placed In the vault.
How Coin is Weighed.
In the weighing of coin. gold or silver.
1t is customary also to examine the stamp
ed aneness and weight on the freight bars.
and to figure the value to see whether 1t
corresponds. 1t Is also customary to have
detectives about the scales and also in the
vault In this case Mr. Preston, DR.. Sher-
ley and the other employees superintended
the weighing and closing Of the vault. six
years ago. Mr.. Morgan. an employe Of the
Washington bureau who saw the vault
opened, found the vault seals intact but
discovered the shortage on a reweighing.
Always Bore a Good Character.
Mr.. Cochran has always been regarded
as one of the most trustworthy officials In
the service Of the government and his fall
is a matter Of great surprise. He lives In
Darby. Pa, and ranks as one Of its leading
citizens. He is an active member Of the
Presbyterian Church and a liberal sup
porter Of the church work. OF late he has
been much interested in the Salvation Army.
which has been conducting an active cam
paign at Mount Moriah.