Year: 1879

Il
| How the Mint i'm that City Wan Robbed
| Novel Method.


New York Mercury.


A few months after FL. L. Dodge. the
present superintendent of the United
States mint, at San Francisco, came into
office, he became convinced there were
leakages during the working of bullion
deposited in the mint-in other words,
that somebody was stealing. He com>
municated his suspicion to Capt. Stone,
who called in detective Jehu, and to-
gether the two began an investigation
that ended in the arrest of colored
man named Smith, charged with stealing
at different times 1000 from the mint.
The feat of the officers, which began in
| October last, is one of the most cleverly
executed pieces of detective work in
the annals of the department, and has
resulted in some important discoveries
and arrests. Henry Smith, who has
heretofore been prominent col>
ored citizen of good reputation and
of considerable influence In politics,
was first employed as q porter in the
mint of 1869. He subsequently left,
and was reappointed night watchman in
1875, leaving the latter place about q
year and half ago, since which time he
has had no connection with the mint.
Upon ascertainiDg that there were
grounds for the uperintendent's sus-
plclons, the detectives made inquiries at
the various places in the city where
bullion was sold. It was discovered that
Smith was selling large quantities of
gold bullion, although he had been out
OF the mint for months. The detectives
then tried to ascertain where the metal
came from: examining the records of
the express offices and books of agents
in this city, through whom bullion
might be sent to Smith, and found that
it did not come from the country. 1t
was then determined that Smith must
have bullion in his possession, as he
kept on selling it at various places, and
he was watched, for months being under
the eyes of detective Jehu. It was sus.
pected that be had accomplices, but
none were found, and the utmost vigi>
lance failed to discover where the gold
came from. However, the detectives
concluded to take Smith into custody,
having obtained circumstaDtial evidence
to warrant them in so doing. On being
arrested, Smith denied any knowledge of
the matter. The detectives then went
to Smiths house at 731 Broadway, and,
searching it from top to bottom, only
about one thousand dollars were found.
But in searching the grounds about the
house, pieces of a small smelling furnace
were found. These were dug up and
shown to Smith, who still denied his
guilt, and affirmed that they must have
been put there by some one else. But
the officers began another search in the
yard, and soon dug up the remainder of
the furnace, which was rich in globules
of gold ranging in value from rs cents to
81. The fire bricks were also covered
with a Stag rich in GOLD. All this was
shown to Smith, who continued to mains
tain his innocence. However, the off,
GERS made another search of the grounds,
when detective Jehu, in probing about
flower bed struck a hard substance
with his spade about two feet below the
base of cactus plant. This substance
was uncovered, when 8 small bean pot
was found, covered with saucer, which
had been sealed with beeswax. The pot
was opened, and found to contain seven
ingots of gold, about the size and shape of
a teacup, and worth about 5000. When
these were shown Smith, he confessed
the whole thing. He ssil that while night
watchman, under General La Grange,
of the refinery, in which are situated
the iron tanks con tanning what is known
as the ''mash" gold and silver bullion in
solution, and in process of separation.
During this process acid is used, which
dissolves the silver and causes the gold
to fall to the bottom. The iron tanks
are locked at night, but there is small
hole in their tops, through which a hose
is inserted and water is allowed to run
upon the gold to wash the acid from it.
At night Smith used to insert a long
scoop made of zinc and gathe, up small
quantity of the metal, which he melted
down in crucible at home. Smith was
for several years in the employ of the
Pacific Mail Steamship company, runs
ming as steward on one of the Panama
steamers. He was turned over to the
q. S. marshall


The Blue-BOttle.