The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-04
TEE GREAT METAL CONSPIRACY.
Further Arrests Yesterday and More Develop
ments Made-What Was Found in the Safe of
Admiral Nelson-The Prisoners Committed
in Default Of Bail-The Conspiracy Be-
ieved to Have Extended to Europe.

The developments yesterday In the case OF the
puroining of the private papers OF Phelps, Dodge
Co., by burglarious MEANS created considerable
excitement in the city and suburbs. The detectives
and the court officers of the Tombs were ques-
toned by anxious merchants to the extent OF
the alleged conspiracy. but they very reticent
and reluctantly consented to dvulge any inlorma
ton. The main facts Of the case stripped OF all
speculations, appeared in yesterdays HERALD, and
the singuarity of the burglary attracted very gene
raj notice Never before has parallel case occurred
in this country, and only one OF a similar cha
racter is on record in Great Britain, far as
be ascertained. That was in Liverpool or London,
nearly quarter OF a century ago. when the mana
ger OF a commercial agency bribed the confidential
clerks OF banking house to dvulge the secrets OF
the institution
The detectives employed by the firm and Captain
Ward, and the special officers of the Beekman
street station house, very active yesterday in
pushing their Investigations further, with a view
OF discovering other evidences OF the guilt of
Abram Nelson, the Pearl street metal merchant
and, If possible, running to their cover his con-
federates They acted mainly upon information
supplied to the firm and the detectives by Peterson
and Nelson who were committed for trial on sun
day, and one OF the confidential clerks, who was,
his penitence and the information furnished by him,
was not prosecuted.
Information thus obtained pointed to other par
ties than those arrested as participants In the
felony, and the firm applied through their counsel,
Judge Fullerton to Justice bowling for search war
rants. Among the search warrants granted was
one empowering Captain Wards officers to enter
the office of the chief OF the accused prisoners ut
295 Pearl street. Thther detectives Mclaughlin,
Nichols and Stillwell, OF the Second precinct, pro-
ceeded yesterday morning, where they met the
head OF the house, Mr.. Admiral Nelson, who Is the
father of the gentleman arrested. The especial
object OF this warrant was to ascertain the con-
tents OF a safe that the younger Nelson on Satur-
tivcs to have access to- alleging that it
was the private property OF his father.
sons yesterday morning they presented their
search warrant to the senior Nelson, who ut first
refused to open the safe, but after perusng the
phraseology of the document with which they
armed he reluctantly complied with their demands
to see the interior OF the safe. 1t was opened, and
MED the officers, at once recognized number of
| the papers found therein the property OF the
| firm. The warrant also authorized the officers to
proceed to the residence Of the Nelson's in Newark
| and examine the house. There were other papers
and memoranda found that will be referred to
further on.
After the return to the Beekman street station
house of the officers and Mr.. James consultation
was had with Captain Ward and as Mr. James fully
recognized some of the papers found in the safe IN
Pearl street as stolen property, Mr.. William d.
Dodge, Jr., requested Captain Ward to arrest the
elder Nelson as confederate OF his son. The cap
tain promptly complied after learning all the
facts of the search, and his detectives about
the Captain. In answer to the usual cues,
lions Mr.. Nelson, who was accompanied
by his counsel and friends stated that his name
! OF Albany, merchant by occupation, residing in
Newark and u married man. Captain Ward sent
the party into private room ana at three O'Clock
the officers arraigned the accused before Justice
| Hogan, who, In default OF bail being furnished,
committed the accused for examination by Judge
| Bowling az a later day.
While these proceedings were being taken in the
city General Charles Dodge, OF the trm, with de-
tectives, visited Newark to examine the residence
OF the Nelson's and other members OF the firm
secured Brooklyn with detectives in search Of
| James Mcpherson, broker, residing in Lafayette
avenue; but the latter party returned with their
object unaccompished, as one of yesterdays jour.
nails published the name OF the broker as one Of
the suspected parties
SO FAR in the working up OF the case the prisoners
arrested and arraigned are Admiral Nelson his Son,
Abraham Nelson and the janitor. Detectives have
gone to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Eng
land in pursuit of others, supposed, from iniOrma
tion obtained, to be confederates of the Nelson's.
In the safe of the elder Nelson was found mum
Der of blank checks, alleged by Mr. James to be the
property Of the complaInants; Mr. James
e einb statistics of the tin trade
OF the world for many years, which had been col
house of Phelps, Dodge & Co., and which had sud
denly disappeared from the premises in Cliff street.
| In the residence in Mount Pleasant avenue, New
ark were found original letters from the Liverpool
house, and from one of the purchasing partners
who recently went out to Russia to close con-
tracts for the year. There was also found
there a box about two feet long, one foot
broad and six inches high, containing much OF the
most confidential correspondence of the hrm and
statistical memorandum In the handwriting, 1t is
alleged of Nelson, Jr IL Is also reported by mem
bers Of the firm that in the safe of Admiral Nelson
letter. written and signed by him and addressed to
his foreign correspondents, referring to the opera
| tions Of the house in the English and European
markets, was found and that in it he states that
owing to the fact that Mr. Dodge Is director in the
| Western Union Telegraph Company he was afraid
to telegraph lest his advces might be tempered with
In the possession OF the prisoners was also found u
letter Of the firm from an agent in Mexico detailing
the merits OF newly discovered tin mine, together
with the original analysis OF the metal prepared by
| Professor Chandler. These latter papers were
| missed some days ago, when search was made for
| them with view OF purchasing the mine, and it Is
| supposed that they were purl0ined to enable rival
houses to secure the franchise OF the property.
An alleged accomplice OF Nelson was arrested
yesterday; but he offered to give very important
Information he given his liberty, but put under
surveillance, so that he cannot escape. 1t is alleged
that Mcpherson, who has so far evaded arrest, was
secret agent OF another metal house, against
which evidence is being worked up
Yesterday kilograms were sent to all the foreign
correspondents OF the firm, advising them of the
revelations made, and the compliments assert
| that they will at once despatch detective to Eu-
| rope to ascertain the ramifcations OF the alleged
| conspirators.
william +. Dodge whose silk umbrella was
found on Saturday night in the trouser leg OF young
| Nelson, when searched at the station house, left
last evening for the Lafarge House, PHILADELPHIA
where he will be found working in the interests OF
| the denomination OF President Grant.