Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Atkinson to Mr. Adams

Consular Agency of the United States, Hull, September 13, 1867.

Sir: Referring to mine of the 4th instant, I have now to enclose a letter from Messrs. Rollit & Son, solicitors, reporting the result of the examination of the prisoner Hoffman.

I also enclose copy of correspondence, giving the information obtained at Bremerhaven respecting this man.

I regret that I am not able to carry this matter further, but have done my best; and I trust that the action taken here will have a tendency to prevent further attempts of a similar nature.

I have the honor, &c,

HENRY J. ATKINSON, United States Consular Agent.

His Excellency Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

American government vs. Hoffman.

18 Trinity House Lane, Hull, September 12,1887.

Dear Sir: Our inquiries in Bremen tend so strongly to the conclusion that the prisoner Hoffman was an innocent utterer of the counterfeit notes, that we have thought it our duty to assent to his discharge. The charge against Meana Jackson was also withdrawn. I enclose you copies of the information on which we have acted, which was corroborated by inquiries made through another source. The guilty party is most probably a sailor on board the Atlantic steamship trading to Bremen, and it will be for your government to consider the expediency of prosecuting further inquiries there with a view to the apprehension of the sailor who gave the notes to Hoffman.

The inquiry here will in all probability be the means of stopping the further circulation of the counterfeit paper in this country. Yours, truly,

ROLLIT & SON.

H. J. Atkinson, Esq., United States Consul, Hull.

American government vs. Hoffman.

Copies of replies to inquiries.

Hull, September 11, 1867.

Gentlemen: In accordance with your request of the 6th instant I made inquiry at Bremerhaven respecting Bernard Hoffman, who is accused of passing counterfeit $2 notes, and hand you annexed the result of my inquiries. I remain, gentlemen, yours obediently,

C. KUHLING, Vice-Consul for Bremen.

Messrs. Rollit & Son, Hull,

[Translation.]

Bremerhaven, September 9, 1867.

At the request of Mr. H. Reidhl (agent of the North German Lloyd) I hereby declare on oath that the mate, B. Hoffman, of the schooner Moene, exchanged about three months ago, in my presence, from a fireman on board the American steamer Atlantic, a number of $2 notes without knowing that they were counterfeit.

CARL WIESE.

The above declaration was signed and declared in my presence.

J. HEITMAN, Captain of the steamer Moene.

The agent of the North German Lloyd writes as follows:

Hoffman appears to be a respectable man, who for a length of time has served on board the steamers of the North German Lloyd to the satisfaction of the captains.

The innkeeper and retailer, Carl Wiese, is a citizen of Bremerhaven, residing in the Iahrstrasse, and, so far as I have been able to ascertain, has a good reputation.

One of the crew of the Atlantic wished to change American notes. Weise himself had not sufficient cash, and Heffman, who happened to be in the house, offered to change it.

Wiese was under the belief that the money was genuine, and is of opinion that Hoffman shared in this erroneous belief.

I learn that one of the crew of the Atlantic exchanged paper money in various places, which afterwards proved to be counterfeit, and probably this man is the same who visited Weise’s shop.

H. REIDHL.