Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-12-16
FOURTH EDITION.
THE GREATEST CRIME OF THE AGE !
THE HORRIBLE PLOT TO DESTROY
THE MOSEL.
THoMAssEN FULLY CONFEssEs HIS
GUILT.
Asyoetatsd Press Special Telegram.

Assocfated Press Special Telegram.
New YORK, Dec. 16.
special dispatch by cable. to the New York
Herald, says that Thomassen, the man who had
engaged passage to Southampton by the
steamer Mosel and the owner Of the case OF dy-
Mantle which caused the terrible disaster at Bre-
merhayen, has confessed that he intended to.de-
stroy the-vessel when in mid-oceap.
The Weser Zeit,tng, Of Bremen, says, authori-
tatively, that it is now proved beyond doubt
that the author Of the catastrophe WAS the pas
senger Thomassen. BE has acknowledge cd most
unhesitatingly that he WAS the owner of the
barrel which exploded on the wharf when the
Mosel was about to start for the United States,
and that he intended placing it on board the
steamer for the
PURPOSE OF DESTROYING HER
some days after she should leave Southampton.
The motive for the diabolical scheme appears
to have been to procure exaggerated and ficti-
tious insurance on cargo, and to share the pro,
fit afterward with others whose names have not
yet transpired.
Thomassen is quite conscious and answers all
questions put to him. He pretends not to no
tiCo bue ouollnity u LIB ohouoes ho AneoLo "u-
tentively to all said to him on the subject, and
answers the questions apparently without re-
serve.
Medical men have been busily engaged since
Monday endeavoring to extract the bullet from
Thomassen's head, but so far all their efforts
have been unsuccessful
According to the information now in the
possEssIoN OF THE porJrF AarNTs
the barrel prepared for the shameful work was
specially constructed Of the strongest material
by Bremen cooper, and divided into several
parts or compartments. Another barrel. having
a large hole in one of the divisions, has been
discovered. This, it is presumed, is the barrel
in which the apparatus for igniting the dyna-
mite WAS to be placed. The Inflated De,tsch
lG nd War to have carried the hellish machine
but it WAS not ready at the time she left, and
hence its transfer to the Mosel.
1t now appears that the number Of victims by
the explosion is much larger than at first report
ed The killed and wounded now number ITO.
ANTxcEDEsTs OF THE CRIMINAL.
Thomassen WAS born in New York. He mar
ried New Orleans woman. During the war,
from 1868 to 1865, he lived in Virginia. He was
engaged in running the blockade, by which he
became wealthy. Since the year 1866 he has re-
sided in Leipsic, and lately at strehled, neal
Dresden.
He appears to have lost his money in specula.
tions lately, aud being embarrassed went twice
to America during last summer. The last time
he went without telling his family where he was
going, somewhat to their CONSERVATION and sur
prise. When he returned here he wrote to hit
bankers stating that he had made arrangements
enabling him to pay certain claims in ecembei
the present month.
His house has been searched again, bu t moth
ing WAS discovered having reference to the ter.
rible schemes to which he has confessed.
Last night he again attempted suicide by tear.
ing off the dressings placed over the pistol sho
wounds, but WAS prevented by his attendants.
NAMES OF THE AcooMpLIoEs REVEALED.
BREMEN, Dec. 16.
There is no change, to-day, in the condition
Of Thomassen. He has fully confessed and re
vealed the names of his accomplioes. The au
thorities will not allow any further particulars te
become known for the present.