Mint Employee Does Double Duty

With the explosion in remote work, there have been occasional reports of individuals holding two jobs simultaneously, unbeknownst to their employers. A similar situation appears to have taken place in the U.S. Mint in 1885. Chief Engineer John L. McGinnis wrote to the Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Daniel M. Fox on July 16, relating that one Edward J. Sterr, laborer, had reported sick to the Mint, while being seen working as a meter inspector at the Philadelphia Gas Office. Fox summarily fired Sterr, by mail, the same day, and a response from Sterr is recorded the following day, noting that he had Sterr is not listed in the 1883 or 1885 Official Register and seems to not have been a Mint employee of longstanding.

Image: extract from July 16, 1885 correspondence from McGinnis to Fox

Link to Official Register of the United States on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/536877?Year=1885&displayAmt=50

Link to July 16, 1885 correspondence from McGinnis to Fox
https://archive.org/details/employeeabsentbutseenatotherjob18850716/page/n1/mode/2up