Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-21
CONsPIRACY AND MURDER
Cnraveltng the DARK Plot Of the Co.'S
IUNu rnmr Case.

"A. Campbell Cos, brother 10 w IN. y. Co.'S, and
enc of the principal witnesses in the insurance
case WAS arrested yesterday at his residence in
this city, 314 North Eutaw street, upon q war
rant sworn out by Mr.. A. 4. Carter, solicitor OF
the Continental Insurance company, charging
him with conspiring with Vim. +. Cdder Eook,
W. 4. s. Co.'S and others 20 defraud the Cont
mental, New York Mutual, the Knickerbocker,
and the Travellers Accident Insurance compa-
mics. He was brought before Justice Hagerty
and, at the suggestion of his counsel, an exami-
nation was waived, and he was locked up for
the night. Justice Hsgerty fixed his bail at
$4,000 (the sum named in the warranty, but
intimated that he would lower IL, with the con
sent OF the states attorney. who was not present.
de viii probably be admitted 70 bail this morn
4 special correspondent of the American,
writing from West Chester says:
THIS SCHEME TO DEyRAUD THE Insurance.
COMPANIES
was carefully planned, the details being ar
ranged over q long period. GOss was at work
rubber Which he had Invented. and ud dbl
was his partner, borrowing 500 from bis mother
to put in the affair. His India rubber was no
one Of them a skiiful physician, testified that
Co.'S had shown them piece of stuff having all
the prophecies Of India rubber, which he de-
clared had not particle Of India rubber in e.,
but that he made il from materials taken from
Chesapeake Bay, and that there was a fortune
IN II. Both the witnesses declared that il was
undoubtedly piece of genuine India rubber.
THE TEMPORARY WORKSHOP.
Goss hired q small shop on the York road,
near Wayerly, ostensibly to carry on his expert
ments. When their plans were perfected, he
increased his line of insurance, by taking out
policies in the Travellers and Knickerbocker's.
The means of the conspirators did not permit
them TO stand the heavy premiums, and IL was
not until a few weeks before the affair was 70
come off that the last two were procured, the
Travellers being taken ont January Is, 1872; the
knickerbocker's on January ", lS72; the fire
coming on on February 2, ls.2: ON the after.
to the shop, and on the way purchased a pint Of
whisky and q gallon of coal OIL and borrowed
an axe from Engle, a neighbor. Together, with
Gottfried Engle, they went TO the shop. A
quantity of stove wood was cut, and about dusk
Goss took out glass lamp, that would hold
about quart Of oil, but IL wouldn't burn well,
and Udderzook and Engle left the shop to get
another lamp. They had not been gone long
when they saw the shop in blaze. They ran
back, and, with Others, were about the house
until ii burr ed down, when CdderzoOk men
toned that Goss was in the building. When
asked why be didn't say so before, he said he
was afraid of making an excitement. Others
about did not bestir themselves, because they
saw a man run down the lane from the house,
as they testified on the stand.
THE EXPLANATION
OF this is said to be as follows:-On the after
noon OF that day A. y. Goss hired buggy from
John c. Thorne, a veterinary surgeon and pro-
prietor of a livery stable, and when il was dark
drove out to the lane near the house. GOss
piled the kindling wood over the body, pro-
cured from some cemetery or dissecting room,
drenched il with coal oil, and set fire TO IL.
There was no explosion, as those living near
testified. W. Z. S. Goss ran down the lane,
jumped into a buggy in waiting and drove
away to the Philadelphia depot, 1t is supposed,
where he took the tram. There were some very
brought out at the trial; the body found had
remarkably bad teeth, while Goss had an IN
usually fine set; the hair was of different color
and there were other points where there was no
resemblance. The agent Of an insurance CON-
pany insisted that the watch and other articles
belonging to Goss should be found. Search had
been made the day after the fire and on other
occasions without finding those articles, and
il was reserved for Mr.. A. G. Goss TO find
the watch, two chains, bunch of keys,
tape line case, and q single -barreled pock-
were extraordinary phenomena connected
| with these articles; the silver of the case Of
| the watch had partially melted, while the bras
Of the tape-line case had not, although 1t Is
| hibited other singular phenomena. At the
| trial, Mrs. Goss testified that "she cut off a
| small quantity Of his 1.-THE dead bodysl hair
bat when she went to look for 1t few DAYS
| later it was nothing but powder; it must have
| been touched by the fire." This was an impos-
sibility. IL half lock Of hair was burned
| der, while the rest is the same as before. Not
| withstandIng these and other facts, the jury
| gave verdict against the company, doubtless
being Influenced by the popular prejudice
pealed TO strongly by the attorney for the
| plaintiff, in order to gain his case. II Is moi
known exactly what were the subsequent
| movements Of Co.'S, but it is believed that he
| kept up communication with his family,
through A. G. Goss. Developments NAV soon
be expected that will throw light upon this
| complicated web of fraud and deceit.
| STARTLING CHAPTER OF CRIME.
Inc Sun this morning publishes accounts from
three Observation-Disclosures, as to Investigations
instituted by the local authorities in connection
with the agents OF the insurance companies in-
tereeted in the risks on the life of W. s. Goss;
second, Investigations instituted by the agents
or representatives of the companies in connec-
tion with Mr.. Pennypacker, theiI counsel; and
lastly, the latest and most important discoveries.
revealing the supposed whereabouts and iden-
tifcatioD Of W. 5. Goss with one A. q. Wilson,
boarding privately in Delaware county, Pa, on
the application and through the agency of I'd
derzook, as shown by Udderzook's letters; also
the particulars of the arrest Of A. c. Goss,
brother of w. S. Goss, deceased and the reason
therefor, as detailed in the statement of Mr..
Pennypacker, together with testimony tending
TO show the identity of w. S. Goss with the bod
found in Chester county. The results 80 far
form startling chapter in the history OF this
notable case.
TIE ARREST OF A. c. Goss.
The Sun, in noticing the arrest of A. c. Goss
In that city, saws :-GOss is aprepossessng look
ing young man, about thirty years old, of light
build, rather under the medium size, and has
dark hair, moustache and small side whiskers.
He is salesman in Stevens furniture establish
meDt, No. 3 South Calvert street. He was at
tended to the station-house and visited after
wards by several gentlemen of influence and
mcdIs VIII kueW Dim well, anu eNlnCeQ a
friendly interest in Ii Afoung man. His arrest
was effected in consequence of a telegram from
Mr.. Pennypacker, the lawyer for the insurance
companies in Chester county, to Gov. whyte,
received yesterday.
OPPOSITE VIEWS OF THE IDENTITY OF THE
REMAINS.
Mr.. ID. Ardin, the father-in-law OF W. Scott
Goss, and Mr.. f. Bampson, who has known
Scott Goss for the past fifteen or more year,,
and who at an early period of the acquaintance
boarded at the same house, have been TO Penn
sylvania and saw the remains Of the dead man
there, and both are positively of the opinion tn
they are not the remains of W. S. Goss. Mr..
Ardin says the nose Of the corpse Ia well enou Oh
preserved for q comparison to be made, and that
y Is not Of the same shape size Is was that Of
Goss, and that the head generally must be that
Of . different person from Goss.
0FEDHRALIsN IN SPAIN.-Dispatshes from
Madrid state that the provinces Of And lusia
Murcia, Valencia, and Calatona have pro
claimed themselves independent cantons, in an
ucipation Of the new federal institution. De
elaIations OF independence were Issued ct Re-
Vile, Cedis, and barcelona. A republican vol
unteer has shut himself mp In the powder mag
azine at Estella, Spain, and threatens TO blow
II up rather than surrender TO the Carlists.