The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-18
FIVE YEARS or PnFERING.
sevsBty-hvo Thousand Dollars worth
OF stool slolen By EaetorY OpsratIvea.

ssvsBty-hvo Thousand Dollars worth
OF stock stolen by Factory Operatives.
For some months Messrs Wheeler a Wilson
have su.pected they were the victims Of per-
sitielt thieving from their sewing machine es-
Establishments. IL must be promised that all the
various parts of their &c wing machine (some
sixty 1--we pieces In all) are manufactured at
their factory at Bridgeport. Conn.,, where 9C0
operatives are employed. These parts are not
for eale outside the iactory-all repairs being
done by the agents OF the house, who are sup
piled from the factory. The only clue to the
mystery lay in the TACT that such parts we're
sold by some persons outside.
In February last the matter was placed In the
hands of Pinkerton's National Police Agency,
who M t Sd MsT Ss aus Wilson e ESs SSys
their principal depot at No. 626 Broadway, New
York where a large number of men ana women
are employed in handling the seWlng.machines,
putting them together, and repairing them.
Having no clue TO start upon, these employees
were ''snadoW wed, " their residences, hRbis. aud
associates ascertained. At the same time, detec-
tives we're introduced into the establishment as
employees In various capacities, aud also at
Bridgeport; these, of course, mingled quietly
among the others, attracting no suspicion.
They soon learned that parts OF machines passed
out OF view from the shelves, work-benches,
and even from securely fastened stOre-rooms,
apparently accessible to none but the most
trustworthy employes--the New York people
especially having acquired high degree Of
skill in their manipulauons. The detectives
sorted to Tor the emergency. ...
A detective approached suspected man, and
related that the employees were watched and
many spotted" by several police detectives
then in their midst, pointing out to him certain
other suspected employees as such detectives
The ruse worked to a charm; the poor fellow
believed that some one had played or on
him, that the whole matter was coming out,
and that the only chance was to secure the
benefit of a full confession. He rushed TO
few of his friends, the story was soon retailed
Gin confidence" through the factory, and Mr..
Wheeler received many confessions OF criminal
ity. This was IN April, two months alter the
case had been taken in hand. Great excite
ment prevailed, and George King was arrested
and committed TOR trial before Justice Dowling
on the 4rh of May. His trial has not yet been
confessions. The Company have not yet de-
cidei as to pressing the prosecutions against
them. They retained their positions.
In the meanwhile the same game was being
practised by the employees at Bridgeport. Pacts
OF machines were stolen, and sold, TO the extent
OF regular business. One trail was finally
struck upon, and $4,000 worth OF ''parts" were
seized in New York. One June IL Messrs. Pin.
kertop, Bangs, and Lonergan visited Bridgeport
in person. They examined nearly sixty opera
tives, nearly all of whom confessed the crime.
Wheeler d Wilson Company we're by this time
thoroughly alarmed by the successive revela-
tions, developing an extent ot thieving far be-
yoDd their suspicious. Only one OF these opera
tlves was placed under arrest, John III. French,
and be, for refusing to give Information that
would facilitate the investigation, beyond tho
Acknowledgement of his own guilt. French was
fully committed for trial at Bridgeport. When
the three above-named gentlemen reached
Bridgeport. their profession was made known,
and their presence created fluttering in this
pleasant town. Their particular purpose not be-
ing understood, it gave rice to many conJectures
and some ludicrous re1ults. Several persons,
hitherto regarded as of unexCepdonable stand
ing, took French leave of their homes, and did
not return for some weeks. One fellow had
contracted to carry out and furnish, within two
weeks, materials for no less than thirty-dve
sewing machines! There are more authent-
Gated facts, and many other details are fur
nlshed. Some had arranged with dishonest
agents of the company to furnish them with
parts for sale and repair. The approximate esti-
mate Of the losses thus incurred may be rounhly
stated at an average of fifteen thousand dollars
per year for five years, forming an aggregate of
these peculations of $4,000! 1t is needless to
add that checks have been placed against such
operations in future, and detectives are still
mingled with the employes.-N. y. Tribune.