The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-03-25

H. B. CLAFLlN & co. ROBBED.
Thefts That are Said to Amount to Not
Less Than $4,000.
N. Y. Sun, March9.
Several months ago Inspector Murray
learned that some one in the employ
of H. B Claflin & Co., whose extensive
dry goods store is in Church street, was
| stealing from them. He took this in.
formation to the firm, where it was dis
credited. But the Inspector had once
before disclosed to the firm leak of
similar nature, which disclosure result
ed in the recovery of several thousand
dollars worth of goods and some money.
and in the conviction of several thieves.
and it was decided that the Inspector
should have his way.
His first step was to select q man to
be employed by the firm and put to
work at his trade in the cutters depart
ment. This man was worked in the
shop regularly for many weeks, known
as one of the hands to all except the
firm and the Inspector. His observa-
tions led him to suspect David Roberts,
the head cutter and superintendent of
the department.. These suspicious were
not communicated to the firm, but the
vigilance of the watcher was increased.
The system soon became apparent.
Roberts was detained by his duties un-
til after the shop was cleared of the
other men. Then he picked up the
waste cuttings, which were bagged and
sold as old rags to Jacob Faulkenburg
of 16O Rivington street. These bags
were removed every three weeks. and
the developments show that when thew
went out of the house they usually con-
talned more or less of valuable stock,
such as uncut silk, velvet and cassi-
meres.
When this had been conclusivelv as
certained, Sergeants Young and
Meakin and Policemen Bonner were
set to watch the store and to trace the
bags at their next removal. Ats o'clock
yesterday morning they saw three bags
taken away by William Ober, an express
man, of 80 Canal street, and his assist
ant, William Linder. They were fol-
lowed and watched until they were seen
to deliver the bags at Faulkenburg's.
The Inspector was summoned, and he
entered the house and surprised Faulk-
enburg in the act of emptying the bags
that had been brought. Besides the
waste cuttings they contained several
pieces of fine cloakings, some velvet.
and tive pieces of Silesia satin the value
of which aggregated about $500. Faulk-
enburg was arrested. The house, a
two.story brick dwelling, is occupied on
ly in part by the Faulkenbergs. There
is no sign nor other evidence of business
10 be seen on the outside of the house,
but the rooms occupied by the Faulk-
enbergs were stored full of miscellane-
GUS dry goods. Experts from the house
OF II. B. Claflin & Co. say that there is
not less than $4,000 worth of goods in
the lot. Most of the stuff was like that
which the firm had in stock ,sbut the
marxs had been removed, and posi-
tive Identification, except of the goods
taken yesterday, was impossible. The
expressmen were followed and arrest
cd.
The police then arrested Roberts. He
is a small old-looking man So years of
age, and has been in the employ of the
house for sixteen years. He lives with
adult daughters at 438 West Forty-sev-
enth street. He completely broke down
when he realized his situation. At first
he was inclined to tell but part of the
truth. He asserted for few minutes
that the goods recovered were the only
ones that he had stolen; but he after
wards acknowledged that he had been
stealing from the firm for three years.
From what he acknowledged, the firm
say that at q moderate estimate the loss
has been $40, 900. Roberts says that the
Faulkenbergs paid him 10 per cent. of
the value Of the goods, and chat he went
to their house by night to get his share.