The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-26
THE MINT At CARSON CITY.
ITS PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT, J,
w. ADAMS, COMPLETELY
EXONERATED.
THE SHORTAGE OF $50, 900 WAS
INCURRED BEFORE HIS AP-
POINTMENT.

The recent offer Of the Mining Stock
Association to assist the Government in
fixing the responsibility of the shortage
existing in the United States mint at Car
son, as published in the CALL on Sunday,
was the subject of general comment in
mining circles yesterday.
AS already stated, the association is in
possession of damaging testimony and
documents in proof of its assertion that
the real shortage will be found to be much
more than 500 900 if a close investigation
is made. The association is anxious to
expose what it terms the ''looting of the
Comstock mines, which could only be
accomplished by the aid OF the mint at
Carson, of which T. r. Hofer was the act
ing Superintendent for many years"
There is no attempt to drag J. w.
Adams, the present Superintendent of the
mint, into this affair." said Secretary
Tingman yesterday. "Mr. Adams has only
occupied his position since July last, and
he could not therefore, be held responsible
for the existing shortage. Mr.. Adams
character is above reproach, as is shown
in the confidence reposed in him by the
people of Nevada, when they elected him
Northumberland some years ago. He
Is unfortunate in taking charge of the mint
at a time when its affairs were in a shaky
condition, as the subsequent discovery of
the shortage proved.
Mr.. Tingman states that he is hard at
work preparing his documents for the use
OF the Government inspectors now at
Carson, and that if these officials avail
themselves of the testimony to be placed at
their disposal some interesting develop
ments may be expected.
I'VE have been awaiting this occasion for
years." remarked he, land now that it has
come every stakeholder in Comstock mines
will be interested in having rigid investi-
CATION. If we are permitted to do so we
Will expose the methods of the mill ring in
every particular. We will show how the
mint at Carson has been used as a de-
pository for stolen bullion, and how some
OF the bullion was subsequently distracted
from the mint. We will show how the
records of the mint were falsified in order
that the tracks of the ring might be
covered up.
1--WE will show that the mint was out
rageously managed, and that when it
suited the purposes of the ring no record
of the receipt of bullion was kept at all
We will show that Mr.. Hofer was himself
in the mill ring. and that he was appointed
as Superintendent solely for the purpose of
aiding the ring in looting the mines and de-
will locate the responsibility for the short
age and in many other ways aid the Gov
eminent in pursuing its inquiries"
Nj. w. Fox, the plaintiff in the suit
against the Hale 81 Norcross Silver Mining
Company, which was heard in Judge Heb
bardfs court. is preparing a digest of the
testimony taken at the trial, which he
will place at the disposal of the Govern
ment. Much of this is of damaging
nature and clearly proves that the mint
was used for other purposes than those
countenanced by the Government.
The record of bullion receipts for the
years from 1887 to 1892, showing startling
discrepancies, is also being prepared.