New Orleans Mint Slidell Investigation testimony available from NNP

RogerB

Those who focus on the New Orleans Mint will be familiar with the 1839 "Slidell Investigation" of this mint. Approximately 300 pages of testimony in this case have been organized and posted on the Newman Numismatic Portal. This represents the bulk of material exclusive of evidentiary/exhibit documents.

The balance is scheduled for digitization once NARA curators have flattened the 'foolscap' pages for scanning (probably October).

Ronyahski

I've read many of these documents. It would have made for a great daytime soap opera show, and a great numismatic book. Although Coiner Tyler and Melter & Refiner Maxwell became the subject of the investigation, and later exonerated, ironically they made the initial accusations of misfeasance at the branch mint. Silver was missing, and Maxwell blamed Dimitry, the Clerk of the weigh room. When Dimitry heard of this, this is what he wrote to Maxwell:

_To James Maxwell,

Sir,

You have accused me of fraud. The cause of your enmity towards me, is the little regard I have paid to the numerous hints and suggestions on your part to subserve your vile purposes. Your conduct deserves chastisement. I shall try to administer it- whenever and wherever I may meet, out of the precincts of the Mint, it is my firm determination to attack you- I warn you to be on your guard.

Mr. D. Dimitry_

ricko

Wow... Mr. Dimitry was PO'd..... I wonder if he ever carried out his threat.... perhaps dueling pistols at dawn?? Cheers, RickO

RogerB

No. They tossed andouille and cheese steaks at one another, and when those were ineffective, they used live Louisiana crawfish.

Ronyahski

Maybe Dimitry unleashed killer mosquitoes. Not too long after, on August 17, 1839, Maxwell died from yellow fever.

RogerB

Tyler also kicked the bucket before results of the investigation were announced.

LukeMarshall

This is too cool, thanks for posting