The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-11-25
a Remarkable Case of Dishonesty.
From the Chicago Tribune.

A most singular case of dishonesty OF
a large scale, by an humble employee il
mercantile house, has just been brough
to light in this city. We wish We coul
pronounce it singular in other respect
than Of mere magnitude, but it is two tru
that no small list enrolIs the number o
employees who are suffered almost notori
ously to carry on expensive living by rob
bing their employers.
Some months ago at an carly hour af
ter the usual closing of our Lake stree
dry good stores for the evening, an alarm
OF fire was sounded for the First District
and tho salesroom of Messrs. Thompson
& Wetmore, dry good and silkhouse OF
Lake street, near the corner of State
street, was found to be on FIRE. The shut
ters and doors we're forced and the prem
ises deluged with water, the fire being ex
tipguished without extended progress, al
though it included in more or less seriou.
loss and ruin both the store and the silk
aud shawl room in the second story, hav.
ing boen at work upon the stair case, the
flames thus invading both rooms. The
earliest investigation as to the origin oi
the FIRE, and the statements of those first
on the ground at the earliest appearance
of the same, though nothing was devel
oped to fix a definite crime upon any per-
SOD, was nevertheless almost irresistibly
the source of grave suspicious duplicating
the occupants of the premises.
Had they been less the high minded
and we'll esteemed men of business they
we're, the members of the firm could have
less fully and completely and on the
ground of character alone refuted the i'm
plication. The bouse had been we'll es-
tablished and doing an excellent business,
but not loug after the fire made an as
signmeDt, and have since been winding
up the business Of the late firm in the
hands of Frederick Tuttle, Esq, assignee.
About the first of last month, Cyrus P.
Bradley, the we'll known police detective
of this city turned his very wide awake at.
tention to matter which was apparently
needing some such notice. The point
proved a good one. the lead was we'll
worth working, and bis discovered most
excellent results as far as the advance
ment of the cause of justice is concerned.
Inform alton reached the detective that
German, named Frederick Gross, living
on Wells street and employed as porter
in Thomson & Wetuore's store, was sell
ing large quantities Of dry goods in the
shape of silks. velvets, Hannels, blankets,
hosiery, gloves, buttons, and various arti-
cles, at about half their cost to various
tailers and small dealers in the city, and
had also peddled to large extent in the
country among farmers. Further inves-
tigation revealed the fact that Gross came
to this city about three years ago very
poor, and at the time in question was in
possession of house very finely furnished
and also bad large sums of money loaned
out. This sudden accumulation Of wealth
not coiuciding with the ow-salaried occu-
patton of porter, and the fact of his do.
ing such thriving business in the dry
goods line, gave rise to the suspicion that
the goods were stolen from the store.
Capt. Brady at once informed Freder.
ick Tuttle, Esq, the assignee, of his sus-
piclons aud inquired if there was any de.
fcieDcy in the store. Mr. T. replied af-
6rmitively, but still was very 10th to sus-
peet Gross, as both Messrs. Thompson &
Wetuore and the clerks had the most i'm
plicit confidence in the porter, and had
trusted the store in his hands several
times. 1t was determined, however, to
keep strict watch upon him, and accor-
dipgly the employees watched him during
the day, and Capt. Brady at night. Du.
ring the watch the latter traced him to
several places where be had sold goods,
and the former Observed him take piece
of flannel after serving q customer.
Thinking the matter had gone far e.
nougb, Capt. Bradley visited bis house on
Friday and found there 5000 worth of
goods of every description, packed away
in trunks, boxes, carpet bags, and in ev.
cry available place. He was subsequent
ly arrested, and acknowledged taking the
goods. II is believed that the operations
of this Gross extent over three years, and
reach an extent of $4,000, though be
himself "thiuks be did not take quite as
much as that"
He has thus been persistent and sue
cessful robber of bis employers. mana
giDg bis operations with skill and in
dustry worthy of a better cause, and the
while be was realising goodly income
from bis dishonesty, had the prudence
and skill to keep bis apparent expenses
and mode of living within the means of
bis class of life. His plan of operation
was ss follows He came down to the
store before breakfast, opened it, swept
out, and placed the show goods outside of
the window. After the clerk came, and
while be was walking to the back part of
the store, Gross would 60 out and taking
a roll of goods. 60 to his breakfast. Small
articles he would take during the day,
and put in bis pockets when unperceived
by his employers and clerks. Since bis
arrest facts have been discovered which
lead to the belief that Gross has added
to the list of his crimes the firing of the
store of bis employees as above, to conceal