Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1896-03-06
The Mint Steal.

The fourth day of the Jones trial
began with Chief Clerk Noteware on
the stand for further cross examina-
tlon by Mr.. WOODBURY.. Noteware
said the same opportunities to steal
existed in the ingot melting room as
In the refinery. Had the spurious
melt been made in the night, the
watchmen would have known that
operations were being carried on at
the Mint. Harris had the same ac-
cess to the vault and books as did
Jones. The books up to 1895 show
no shortage and were passed as COR
rect by The Superintendent. Quar-
terly statements, containing the re-
ports of the Meter and Refiner, are
forwarded to Washington by the Sup
erintendent. Dana Brown, weigh
clerk, and Chas Thompson, meter,
made most of the figures in the Meter
and Retiner's record. While Jones
was assistant Meter and Retiner no
false entries were made in the books.
Had searched for the tags, but did
not find them. Llkens told me tags
should be there. Never had seen the
tag book, and did not know whether
1T was there or not. The records of
the tags are placed in book. Was
IN the Mint when the spurious melt
was discovered and confined his in
ve5tlgation to the superintendent
department. Did not know WHO dis.
covered that leaves were missing from
the consolidation record. There is
nothing to show that S. P. No. 164
ever went to the refinery. If it did
it must have been stolen from the
vault. The figures lG4 are smaller
than the figures 1874, and thu figures
"a are different from the other two
sets of figures on the bogus bar. Elk
amined the bullion passed over to
Harris from Zabriski and none of it
was stamped like this. Had never
stated that he knew the spurious melt
was made in June, 1893. Ted Dolan,
Tom Connors, Arthur Raycraft and
myself were weighing the bullion in
the vault when the gold bar was
found to be missing. Did not remem
Der whether they were asked to search
for it before they began. Did
not know whether it could have
been stolen by any person while they
were weighing the bullion. 2. b.
Ellis went to San Frar cisco two days
after Jones did III February, 1895, on
the same nature of business. Was
taking no deeper interest in the case
than his position with the Government
required.
Re- direct examination by Clarke
Most of the bullion in the Mint was
shipped to San Francisco in April,
1895, upon telegraphic order from
the Director of the Mint, so that it
might be reworked to test it's genu.
ineness instead of assaying it. Was
always friendly with the defendant
and had no desir" to sec him convict.
ed. From the time Jones entered the
Mint in 1890 as Assistant Meter and
Refiner until July l, 1894, he received
$4,000 per annum; from that time I'M
til he was discharged he was reduced
to $1,000 per annum; while he was
weigh clerk he received $3.50 per
day.
On re cross examination Woodburn
asked Noteware if he would lot rath.
er see Jones behind the bars than
Hirsch Harris. Noteware replied: ~.
elf he is guilty, would"
independent Of that, guilty or not
guilty" continued WOODBURY..
"No, sir; emphatically no." was the
reply.
A deposit of the same fineness as
the spurious met, 1917 in gold and
943 III shvcI. was received from the
Savage inmc December II, 1894.
More Of the same iineness was re-