New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-30
UNCLE SANS "FENCE. y
assay Office an Innocent Rival of
Private Receivers of Stolen Goods.

Alfred Mason, superintendent of the United
States Assay ONCE. in Wall-st., sat in his office
yesterday, and. CHANGING out Of the window at the
spire Of Old Trinity standing guard at the street
head remarked thoughtfully to a visitor:
Il suppose the reason men who are in the steal
ing business bring their goods TO us TO be refined Is
because they know they will be treated well-that
is. they get full value. Now, If they took their
thievings to a regular fence they'd be cheated,
very likely. Men, you know-even thieves-like to
deal with honest Dealers
We'll, that's a good one" exclaimed the visitor
(who happened to be Tribune reporter), laughing;
"a regular fence Then, suppose, Uncle Sam Is
an irregular fence kind of prize fence and re-
cever of stolen goods"
Mr.. Mason smiled broadly. and returned:
We'll. can't help it if he is. Uncle Sam is an
honest dealer and gives full weight, and so ne Is
popular with both honest and dishonest dealers in
gold and silver ware. AS to that dispatch this
morning from New-Haven in to-days Tribune"
he continued "I believe we did help them to catch
those whom the International Silver Company
accuse Of robbing them. I believe some detectives
came down hero and identified some silver bars
that had been left here by man to be refined as
the property Of the International Silver Company
Yes, I believe assisted them in that case We
are always ready and glad to help bring criminals
to justice, naturally, as good citizens The Assay
Office renders important duty TO the public 1t
protects it
Both the just and the unjust. it seems" re-
marked the visitor
Well" said Mr. Mason, smiling again. but how
can we help 1t? It's certainly impossible for us
to investigate the statement of every one who
brings metal here TO be refined. What? Yes we
take it from any one who offers it; we never ask
questions. We simply ask the party to put down
his and address. and when the silver Is
melted and refined turn back the bars to him.
charging him 81 for the melting and about one
cent an ounce for the refining. That, 1 re-
member It, about what we charged that man
who brought the silver bars from that New
Haven company.
I've often wondered" Mr.. Mason went on, lin
my fifty years in the Assay Office, If some Of the
gentry in the stealing business hadn't used US for
a fence Yes I remember the case of that West
Side burglar-Brooks, you say his name is? Ana
think that was the first case that came to my
attention. But he was wrong when he said ne
sold the silver TO this office. We buy only gold
We give coin for gold but in the of silver
we only refine it, and after the party who brings
it here pays for the work we turn over the
bars to him, I have explained. No. It ism
practically the same thing as buying the silver
although, of course, refining 1t makes 1t easy to
dispose of 1t to bullion brokers.
The Assay Office is great help to thieves?
Yes, but it's also of great help TO the public gen
orally. This is part of the government, and the
government protects the good and the bad alike
If it were not for the Assay Office, many people
who want their gold silver refined would be
cheated. I've known Of a good many cases where
private refneries have placed 9991,000 (the ster-
refined here afterward they were found to be only
1871 600 fine Now, that's pretty good percentage
for the reiner retain, besides his regular charge
isn't it? l think l say without hesitatiOn-yeS,
1 know I can-that all bars turned out at this Of
fee are 999-100 fine, and that's the reason people
like to deal with us"
Then there's way for you to prevent the
Assay Office being a burglars fence?" asked the
reporter.
mo way that I can see. Why, buy between
100000 and $4,000 600 worth of jewellers gold bars
watch cases, and so on, every year, and $1,000
of old silver. Now, how could look into each
offer we have to see whether it made by an
honest man or a rascal? We haven't time We re
fine about $4,000 600 of fine gold each year that
comes to us from refiReries where it is sent direct
from the mines and can't bother 10 inquire
into the business morality of every who brings
metal here. as ! have said
Then the sad fact remains" said the visitor
that the United States Assay Office is the prize
fence in town: in, fact is a sort of grinding hiding
be driven of business, doesn't it? OF course
they can't compete with the government Thank
you sir; good day"
Good day" replied Mr.. Mason, and he was still
smiling the visitor went away.