The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-09
ARRESTS WILL FOLLOW
For Over Five Years the Pilfer-
ing Has Been Going On
Without Detection.
HOW THE WORK WAS DONE.
Deposits of Rich Bars Substituted
by Metal Containing Less
Than Credited.

RENO, New, April s.-The Gazette this
evening publishes the following concerning
the Carson Mint scandal:
John T. Jones, assistant melter and re-
finer of the United States Branch Mint at
Carson, and Ernest Harris, melter in the
melter and refiner's department, were sus-
pended this morning.
This may or may not be an indication of
what will shortly follow. The Gazette has
positive information that the mint short
age amounts to $4,000 and covers period
of about five years, running back to the
time that S. c. Wright was Superintendent,
then through the two years of I. R.
Hofer's administration.
Hofer was appointed Superintendent at
the time of the death of Wright, in the
summer of 1892, and the shortage contin-
ued during the present administration.
The bullion on hand has all been re-
assayed to ascertain if the value stamped
on the "shoes" or bars tally with their
true value. 1t is needless to say that it
does not.
Inspector Mason is making most thor
ough examination into Mint affairs and
will undoubtedly succeed in placing the
theft where it rightfully belongs.
The inspector found that one deposit,
containing about $4,000, one-half of
which was gold, had been substituted by
bars which are valued at only $4,000, prin-
cipally silver, while the original contained
a large percentage of gold.
The genuine bars contained 1927 fine
grains of gold and 500 fine in silver and
171S base, making the 1000 grains, which
is the standard. approximately the spu-
rious bars only contained "a fine in gold
and the balance in silver. This transac-
ton alone shows a shortage of about $21 900
and leaves a further stealing of about
$50, 900 yet to be accounted for. and which
may have been taken during the process
ofrefning.
A bar to be refined containing gold, sill
yer and base is sent to the refining depart
ment and there undergoes either a sui
phuric or nitric acid process. In the
sulphuric acid process bar of bullion is
placed in pot over the furnace, sulphuric
acid is poured into the pot over the bar and
heat applied. After certain degree of
heat is attained the bullion is dissolved,
the silver and other metal becoming
is then siphoned off and placed in a large
leaden vat, in mint parlance called
'house," in the bottom of which are pipes
containing hot water and steam, in order
to keep the liquid hot. In the bottom of
this "house" are great many bars of
copper. Blue vitriol (sulphate of copper
is then poured in and another chemical
action then takes place, which causes the
silver and other metals in solution to be
precipitated.
AS there is great affinity between them
and the copper bars, the molten metal is
deposited thereon and they are after
ward taken out and the silver and other
metals obtained by scraping them. The
precipitated gold, which is described above,
undergoes certain process called "sweat-
ing" after which it is ready to be run into
bars by itself. Gold in this State is neces-
sarily very fine-almost pure, being nearly
1000 fine.
A Gazette reporter saw United States
District Attorney Jones and endeavored to
find some information concerning the Mint
shortage, but he declined to give out any
information except to state that important
arrests would be made in short time and
that there may be great surprises when the
names are known. Mr.. Jones said that the
Government has full corps of men in
various departments at various places pro-
curing the necessary proof to warrant
arrests, and that, Notwithstanding the
great ingenuity of the criminals in their
operations very complete chain of evil
dence of their guilt has even at this time
been welded. Further than this Mr..
Jones would not speak, but said that when
the proper time arrived he would give the
press complete information. Civil as well
as criminal proceedings will most likely be
instituted against those who are even re-
motely connected with the steal