Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-21


weighing of gold bullion contained in
one Of the reserve vaults of the Phila-
delphia Mint has led to the discovery of
shortage of about 5000 ounces of gold
bullion, valued at about $105,0 900. In 1887,
during the superintendency of the late
Daniel NJ Fox, there was made trans
fer of $15000,000 in gold bullion from
New York to Philadelphia. The trans
fer was made under the supervision Of
treasury officials, and the bullion was
stored in one of the vaults of the Phila-
delphia Mint. The bullion was weighed
at the mint under the supervision of Mr..
Preston, the present acting director of
the mint, and transferred to the vault,
which was occupied by one of the treas
ury officials during the entire time of
the transfer During the period of
weighing and storing the bullion no
persons other than Mr.. Preston and his
assistants were permitted to enter the
vault. Upon the completion of the
weighing and storing, Superintendent
Fox receipted for the bullion, and the
vault was sealed by Messrs Preston aud
Fox. Since its storage in 1887 the vault
has remained sealed. A short time ago,
in consequence of the orders Of the
Secretary of the Treasury to coin gold,
il became necessary 10 open the reserve
vault that the bullion in question might
be used.
sUPERINTENDENT BosBYsHELL REsPoN-
sIBLE.
During recent visit of Mr., Preston
to Philadelphia Superintendent Bosby-
4 shell informed that official that he pre-
i ferred, when the seals were removed
d from the vault, that the acting director,
4 or other official of the Treasury Depart
y ment whom he might designate, should
& be present that tho condition of the
bullion might be officially ascertaincd.
y When Colonel Bosbyshell assumed
h charge of the mint the bullion in the
reserve vault was not weighed, Colonel
i Bosbyshell receipting for the contents
of the vault, accepting the statement of
the schedule as correct. This was a
natural but imprudent proceeding. The
fact that the seals OF the vault were IN
tact, exhibiting no evidence that the
seals of the vault had been molested,
naturally led to the conclusion that
there could have bssn no change in the
amount of bullion stored. Upon pre-
ferring the request for the presence of a
treasury official sent when the vault
should be opened, Director Preston re-
IhihuSu Ooon., I.."S ~
raisea no questioil to''en.ns tne"onsehss
OF tne Fauit upon assuniins ,,.it olnS,al S,nI
chaise u .ne ll's.i ~, anu .nu % s,ed ny nav az
Ieceipteu toi 'Ie iu,a a,aoV o,'nsSIo ItS.' Gu Gu
she scheuuie, he Was iosPunstpre. P.s SQ %
lar as inc acc0uhlaoliity, therefore, oi
the superlntenuehl was oonceIhsu, .ne
make no difference.
THE VAUIT OPENED.
Director reslon, however, asleeu Una.
tno treasury esouiu w tePresen.ou az
Ino VPeS ~ h.,,i a;,, ~ ~"
Meishtns vi tho ~ gui1uY: W1,ii: ~
iew unSs ~, ~. " iia.ain ~ ~ San,
oI the MIN puielu ioio, "es ,',,,, soa
70 pe present wncii 'ne seais ~ VI .iia saul'
shouiu 10 pLj "nu snS ,,;ni,'.d yu,H -,
Melgheu' lhls was accouipiisheu 9ll
iues9ay lass, WIN sne iesuiS s ant a.'eSSg = ndS
staIeu, hainety,a slloi1iso Va ao0us o,ooO
ounces MI, morgan returned yss,er'
uay 70 asnihs.on am iepTI.ou ~ W
shortage 10 prectnr rles.oh' 70 a'9,t n;
makins any nlls.ahe M M. NE matter, ~
rector fIeston sent NJ -uo' san JUN
lhnleulateiy W ! i'iauo.pn.a, WI ~
strgGIions 10 niake anotnel % we weiH5mins
auh;n any hjiesJ. ~ s.aso sea S'"t naI ~ nar
uepnia i.;,;en .n,i NJ p Praa.nn % iaft XII IL
SOMA ..sa'lon, ~ ieson .,t,,il ~. i
Lle nope sua. t.'e seoohu IeLsnnns W. mIuiv !.
Ieveai a hils.ake .has hau @ oeen ,.. maui - =
1;,,i .has VI iues s ius,' -. p"S sno'' 'eoN'' y
DO ii..,u siounc .a1,, 10, sn,' aS noe ps,, ,,,r
TIE I NM ~ Soona, hao or ,,aar ~ oLarr
an yua,,lt IN ,yhich thn h,llion ,ve,
pl ln sau. ,h ~ ras, rasnv w woars o" and %s ns
ioageo aOi SnU pIsv T. ,he m;;nt % fnr Az Years
p1on onip r. 80. ~ " iha ,rarit ,y6en th,
',I ig Voc ~. ~ cIa hse',nh, ' fror, New Val
opii1n S "So 49, % e5,t;rnomsIy In chora
anu anu nas mas; ooon oon''A"o''
o'ot s'nSo ,,r, ,Sc,,rs r,,cr
M, MALLs oSni 'Si,ia ~ ~ saaIs cioarI,
Inc ,,a, uonIaSn NV 49, VI oS n tho o v"ult hay
lH snom anAt ao1 sno uI sinon ,hav ,ynra close,
@ NV o0h ,h bnii,,r in tss7 and If ther
uPun .no ou't .,na,t;1n - -. falonio,,
mas peen an ms aussi1os'o", hou,' ,,oda ,hrrn@
esi aII ~ ~, Ill, ~ M v,nlt which ar
ohs ;5 % ,e orl mI,iI four % inches in thick
Svlu SWu 70 W. S oIy hv NV ,vhI,n, tba ohstrncto
W. n'n, ~ Az" n,jil ~ ,.n,rse he made IN
n mas ui'uS VIZ noi'i,o III ;nn,,iry In nj
supIecs ,; y. I. ~ ,,or,jrdnt 70 ohserv
sonhsS.'on, .S ,S o,t,ot,aS ~ - dF r. Gnn%ress has bee
tracnan,i,, naS 'no H Jirectcd N The insecurity
,reHuen'iy @ ~ eAiuorS u."tficioncv IL nf the vanI
Meu aa 1,,ne tne aainSi, Nil
A Vi sne ~, nna..e a'r al,,n',,.,,, nv y.rr
II s,nor;utsrdan, So srd Rosbvsbell was