The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
Methods of Weighing Bullion in
Making the Annual Set.
Elements.
THOSE TAGS STILL MISSING
The Books Show No Shortage, but
the Books and Bullion To-
gether Do.

CARSON, New, March SIN the Jones
trial this morning the cross-examinatlon
of Noteware by Woodburn was resumed.
Witness said that the same opportunity to
steal existed in the ingot melting-room as
in the refinery. II the spurious melt was
made in the night the watchman would
have known that operations were being
carried on. Harris had the same access TO
the vaults and books as Jones. The books
of 1895 show no shortage, and everything
was accepted by the superintendent as cor
rect up to that date.
Witness then gave the jury detailed
account of the methods of weighing up
bullion in making annual settlements. He
found no shortage in the books prior to
Melter and Refiner Harris coming into the
mint 1t was Harris who discovered the
shortage in the metal soon after he went
into Office, and it was Harris who reported
the shortage to the superintendent. The
defendant was his assistant at that time.
In the fiscal year ending in 1898 there were
ATOP ounces less came back from the re-
finery than went up; in the year ending
in 1894, 325S ounces less.
The internal record-book is in the hand
writing of Jones. Brown (the weight
clerk) and Charles Thompson, but most of
it was in the handwriting of Brown. The
weight clerk is supposed to keep the books.
The books are all balanced except for the
years 1898 and 1894. In previous years the
credits of the slum bullion make the
books balance.
He had no feeling but one of friendliness
for Jones. Their relations had always
been pleasant. Jones had received S. SO a
day as weight clerk. As assistant melter
and retiner he received $1,000 year when
he first went in, but this had been reduced
to $500 since.
A small purse was then exhibited to the
jury and witness said that since the noon
recess he had put several small bars in the
purse worth $225. This evidence was to
show how the gold had been taken. The
abstraction of the leaves was from place
in the accounts prior to any entries by
Mr.. Harris. On December II, 1894, there
was a deposit from the Savage mine only
three points difference in silver and the
same fineness in gold as the bogus melt
Also on January 3, 1893, there was de-
post of bullion by Charles Peters that
went 1917 in gold.
Woodburn tried TO show that the bullion
found in Pickler's yard was of the same
fineness as the spurious melt.
The court ruled it was not proper cross
examination, and Woodburn said he would
introduce the evidence later.
George Likens, employed in the refinery,
testified to the disappearance of the bull
lion tags. He said:
"The book and tags for the wear
ending 1893 were taken away by some one.
but don't know who. They were deliv-
cred by Mr.. Pierce to some one in the
melter and refiner's Department. think
Mr.. Jones, but am not positive, but that is
my impression"
Cross-examined by Woodburn-I testi-
fed twice in the Heney trial.
Witness was asked about the book, when
General Clarke stated that since the noon
recess the book had been found.
Witness-I don't know what became of
the tags in 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893. but I
think they were all taken away at the
same time. Can't positively say who
asked for the tags, but it was some one
from the refinery. Think it was in June.
1893. Never searched for the tags until
quite recently. Other people have searched,
but they are still missing. Jones some
times accounted for the receipts to the
superintendent and sometimes to Ia
briski. Jones was ssistant melter and re.
finer when Heney was there and also as
sistant melter and refiner up to his sus-
pension. The operations practically ceased
at that time. The books show no shortage.
but the books and bullion together show
shortage. 1t was necessary to assay the
bullion to discover the shortage.