Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-06
AIEyA. GAZETTE& & VIRGINIA ADVERTISED
An Extraordinary Crime.
From the New York World, June 3. |

From the New York World, June s.
'Erick P. Peterson, of Finland, janitor of
No. II Cliff street, occupied by Phelps, Dodge
l. Co., and Abraham Nelson, OF Newark, j.,
book. keeper, were arrested about 10 o'clock
Saturday night coming from the above premi-
ses with $1l.30 worth Of umbrellas blotting
paper and envelopes on their persons. They
pleaded not guilty, aud were held to answer
yesterday morning. ...
The above seemingly unimportanttem comes
In the ordinary current Of news from police
headquarters. But there was more than ap-
peared under those umbrellas. From perfect
ly reliable source the following ampl!fcation OF
the story was received yesterday:
For some time past Messrs. Phelps, Dodge i
10, one Of the oldest metal firms III this coun-
try have observed with much surprise that
what should have been the secrets Of their
business were known by portion OF the
trade About ten days since they sought the
aid of ex-Judge Fullerton. He and corps of
detectives have been investigating the mys-
terry ever since. They found no substantial
cue to it until they made the above-men-
toned arrests on Saturday. Mr.. Abraham
Nelson is a merchant IN the same line as Phelps,
Dodge & Co., and in pretty good standing.
He does business at 2q5 Pearl street, and re-
sides at Mount Pleasant avenue, Newark, \.
j. At the time of his arrest he tried to destroy
some papers belonging to the firm which he
had in his possession, but was prevented
When brought before j I'D &c Bowling he made
full confession. He said, as we are informed,
that he had obtained an insight into the affairs
Of the firm Of Phelps, Dodge & Co., in order
to aid him in carrying on his own business. de
had begun operations by inquiring Of the janl-
tor as to what he did with the envelopes re-
crived by the firm, some | rs in number. The
;,,;.,r t,lJ him tb,t bo coEr3 thrn;1rh thnr
to see that no important document remained in
any OF them, and destroyed them. Said the
tculpter then IF you will save any of them
for lne that have the name of the firm FROM
which they came printed on the corner, l will
pay you for them" This apparently almost
harmless proposition was accecded to. But it
was only the entering wedge The first doubt
iuI step taken, the janitor was gradually IN
duced to aid Mr. Nelson in any plan that oc-
CURED to him, by which he might undermine
the business of the venerable firm. BY means
of the envelopes Nelson soon obtained list OF
the correspondents Having the janl.or we'll
in hand, he next sought, with success. to win
the stock and contract clerks as contederates by
the help of all these inside traitors he was
enabled to get into communication with the
patrons of Phelps, Dodge 4 Go. tie would
write to them, offering metal little under the
prices which he knew the old firm were selling
them, and thus obtained their custom. Again
knowing where they bought, and the size and
character of their contracts, he was euabied
often to turn the information to his own benefit
and their injury.
Ia his frequent night raids upon the office,
by the help OF the iauitor md his other con
fcdcrates, he even went so tar as TO get dupE-
cate keys, by wax impressions, tor various in-
D ,rtant locks. In word, he had the run OF
L. l.
about the affairs Of the firm as most OF the
partners.
The story of the umbrella theft Is this:
When Mr., Nelson was searched in the police
Office fine silk umbrella, belonging to some
one In the Phelps establishment, was found
thrust down into his pantaloons. which state
mcnt, if true, would plainly indicate the nat
ural proclivitcs of the man-the popular YER
diet being that any one who would appropriate
an umbrella that did not belong to him was
equal to any atroclty.
Il is thought by the Phelps firm that Nelson
was either the tool or the confdant OF other
merchants. They supposed that having OBJ
taned considerable knowledge of their affairs
he went to other merchants and tempted them
into collusion by offers of valuable information
NAVIGATOR IsIANDs.-From letter in one
of the papers from the Navigator Islands we
gather some further information concerning
our new possessions Life there IS SAID TO De
very primitive The natives have passed the
last ten years in fighting among themselves,
and the few Europeans at Port Apia, 1t would
appcar from this letter, do pretty much moth
ing but dance Scotch reels and Highland flngs
which NAV be very pleasant occupation, but
is a snecies of excrtion that will hardly ada
much to the productive industry OF the island.
The natives about two years ago, gave up
fighting each other from sheer exhaustion, ana
while they we're preparing to renew the contest
the United States has slyly stolen ID, like the
fox in the fable and has taken possession OF
the cause of dispute. The production OF the
islands arc guano and bread fruit. 1he oSppor-
tunties, for the study OF antony are saio 10 pe
very fine. The customs of the people are not
at present as civilized as they may 10 tithe Oe
come. 1t is, we are sorry to say the ous.o;n
of our new fellow-citize to give no quarter 10
battle, but when an enemy is taken his head is
ncontinenty struck off, and there ls-Witnout
any puu-an end of him. The King seated on
his mat. receives all such trophies with greatJoP
and it is calculated to impress one With STU
gular feeling to see a cannoe padded across
some peaceful bay with number OF heads
stuck on it, or to see these American cllzens
without distinction of race, COLOR or previous
condition of servitude, passing along the peaon
carrying knives about eighteen inches long
bloody from some recently slain felloW-nati'e'
1t would be well for all lecturers II tney
could maintain the self possession OF a man
who, while delivering an address at LaTrence ss
a few evenings since, accidentally stepped Irom
the platform on which he stood, and fell soh;e y
distance to the ground. but, striking E.. on oome n
teet continued, undiscopccrted, ;" 'ono
down to the level of my audience.
The pcws of the Methodist church on o.ie ,ne
boundary Hue between Pennsylvania and Ohlo
latter They are bothered to conduct marriage
services legally and gracefully at the same tlme'
fhot ,,,.t,,r,-