The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-05
THOMASSENS MYSTERIOUS BOX.
EXAMINATION OF THE BOX SHIPPED BIZ THE
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EXAMINATION OF THE BOX SHIFTED BY THE
cHLuc-sHoT POUND INSTEAD OF SPECIE
In last Sundays special cable dispatches the fact was
stated that Thomassen, the dynamite hend had IN 90
tober last shipped a box said to contain specie and
failed IN securing insurance thereon HERALD reporter
learned yesterday that this box was st In the custody
of the White Star line and he also aseerained tha'
Oncer Laird Of the Ninth ward police, who is on duty
Mt the compauy's pier knew something about the mys
FERROUS box. Accordingly he called on the ohcer last
,vening and obtained the following statement
was on duty at the White Star dock on the 24th OF
October when the Celtic arrived at eleven oelooS ~
the morning / noticed box in charge OF inspector "
Customs Classy, who said contained specie ~ed
heavy II had no mark or address ana Nas 49,
with black oilcloth much worn and tied with heavy
cord Mr. Pennen the dock superDtendehn VI u sa
II 70 be left on the dock the Custom HOUSE 9uloe
Tbomassen came IN and said il contained cartridges,
that he going hunting our Coz az. AZ c ~s1
y 70 remain for day or Two on ss sasd he vas
House officers consented and Ibomasseh sa,u ne Va
going 70 the Fifth Avenue Hotel he Wens sneIe Ieg
Istercd under the name Of W. n rn1mas' 81 Dsesuen'
and renamed untsl the 2sth OF october fhe box re-
NAMED In front OF the Custom House ONCE for week
Onlcer Banks who in charge, wanted 70 see what
steeI lining he was satisfied Il then put In the
baggage room and thought nothing of it ul We saw
the OF Sunday about aiusion to his attempt
Ing TO ship specie and obtain an insurance on IL
recolect Thomassen or Thomas perfectly WE'LL he
wore gold spee.acles and looked perfect gentleman
The doctor OF the Celtic remembers him. Superinten
dent Rddel Of the wharf, told me on Monday that the
case in. the baggage room then went 10 super
intendent WaThng and told him OF 1t and
he told TO inform the Bureau OF Com
bustibles OF the same. ] then went there
and told that inspector would come and remove
u Az they getting rather uneasy on the subject
the wharf hr Kelly the cooper on the pier opened
81 carefully. There were three boxes We prled on
the steel straps and throw back the lid after taking out
the French nails Inside found box OF thin sheet
steel which fitted tho wooden box exactly.
The lid was loose with a thumb hole in
and straw envelopes for bottles underneath
Inside the steel box under the rubbish, we found
email wooden box 10x4xs inches, heavily corded, with
brown paper Wrapper IL We cut the wrapper OH
very carefully, believing 10 contain explosive mate
rial and found the fastened with four screws
The box was Of halfineh stuG After getting out the
screws we found II contained two bags OF Nos and
shot made by Walker Parker, OF London. There were
four bags Of shot In all each OF twenty-five poundstwo
bags In little box and two fastening the little pox
steady in the steel box
There explosive materials In the box put the
TACT that Thoassen had endeavored TO insure the shot
for the value Of pretended co 600 IN gold bullion
Bhows that he had scheme on foot TO deraud the
Insurers Whether he had any way OF converting the
box Of shot into informal machine can only be
porter called at the Fifh Avenue Hotel he was shown
The register and found the signature ''W. X Thomas "
written therein in bold hand. The proprietors re-
nembered the very well, but could not say
whether he received any visitors or not They dd re-
member thai he spent great deal OF his time IN MS
room These facts show that the desperate schemer
had indeed plotted to defraud insurance companies long
before his last venture resulted disastrousy IN The
destruction Of his and other lives