New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-18
FIVE YEARS or PILFERLNG.

sEVENTY-F1VE THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH or
STOCK STOLEN BY FACTORY OPERATIVES.
For some months Messrs. Wheeler q Wilson
have suspected they the victims Of persistent tcv
ing from their sewing machine establishments. II must
be promised that al the various parts of their sewing
machine (some 50 pieces in alb are manufactured al
their factory at Bridgeport, Conn, where 900 opera
tves are employed These parts are not for sale outside
the factorva repairs being done by the agents OF the
hOse who are supplied from the factory. The only clue
the mystery lay in the fact that such parts We're SOFA
10y some GesTs s Sam ~ Pipeyto3 National Police
Agency who az once laid their plans 9lnety 10 No H
DOT at No C2s Broadway, New-YOrk, where large
number Of men and women are eWpiNtu III
handling the seWing-machines, putting them to
eether and preparing them Having clue to start
upon, these employees were shadowed therresdehces'
habits, and associates asceitained Az ine SAINT 'ie'
detectives were introduced into the establishment ms EN-
ploy6s in various capacities, and also at bridgeport
ractine mo- sspcon They soon learned that parts of
machines passed out of view from the shelves, work
benches and from securely fastened store rooms
apparently accessible 10 none but the most trustworthy
employ6s-the New-IOIk people especially having &c
quired high degree of skill IN their malpuatOns Inc
detectives bafled, and so new eXledient was re-
sorted 10 for the emergency. detective alproacheu
suspected and related that the employees were
watched and many spotted" by several police detectives
then in their midst pointing out 10 nm certain otnei
suspected employ such detectives The rse worked
TO eharm the poor fellow believed that some one had
'played off, ON him, That the whole matter was
coming ont, aud that the only chance was 10 seCuIr
the benefit Of full confession. He rushed to Few OF
his friends the story Tctalled " IN confidence
through the factory, and Mr. Wheeler received many
confessions Of cTimiuaty. This was III April TWO
mouths er the case had been taken in hand Great eA
element prevailed, and George hing was arrested ana
committe trial before Justice Bowling on the 4t o
May His trial has not Yet been bad Others many OF
them bows made full confessions. The Company nave
not vet decided 10 pressing the prosecutions against
them They retain their positions.
la the meanwhile the same game was heSng piaclceu
by the employees II Bridgeport. Parts ~ machines were
stolen and sold the eXtent Of regular business one
trail was finally struck upon and $4,000 worth Of parts
were seized in NewfOrk On june II Messrs PlpkeIto
Bangs and Lonergan visited Bridgeport ~ person They
examined nearly co opaatives Hearty all OF whom con-
by this time thoroughly alarmed by the successive leNe
isons developing AZ exteht Of thsypS tr bey9m their
suspicious. Only one OF these operatives WAS pdceG
under arrest John H. French and he, for refusing Ia give
information that would facilitate the investigation be
yOnd the Acknowledgement OF his own guilt French was
fully committed for tnal AT Bridgeport. When the three
abOve.named gentlemen reached Bridgeport, their pro
feSaiOn made known and their presence created
hutering this pleasant town Their particular purpose
aud some ludi.fQps results hfYsrl persons htberto
REGARDED 81 uneXcepl0hahlt standing took French
leave Of their homes aud did return for some weeks
one fellow had contracted TO carry out and turplsh with
In two weeks materials for less than ttgrc sewing
machinesi There more authenticated facts ana
many other details furnished some bad arranged
with dishonest agents Of .he Company 80 mfnsh them
with parts for sale repair me approximate es1maie
thus incurred may he rOundy stated ~ an l
ersge of fifteen thousand dollars per year FOR I'VE year
forming aggregate Of these populations Of $1,000! II
needless 10 add tqa checks have been placed against
snCh operations IL future aud detectives are stu mingled
with the employ Is Blrg 51ss'ffhss-1