Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-02
MAJOR PHIPPS SKIPS.
ANOTHER BIG SCANDAL UNEARTHE

MAJUk PHlPPO NklfO.
ANOTHER BIG SCANDAL UNEARTHED
The Philadelphia Almshouse Superintendent
Charged with Embozzlement, Fails
to Appear at the Hearing.
The arrest on the charge of defrauding
the city, of Major Ellis p. Phipps, super
intendent of the Brockley almshOuse in
Philadelphia ON Thursday evening, q few
hours before his term Of Office expired.
created considerable excitement when the
intelligence became known Friday morn
ing, but when the ma jOr failed to appear
at the central station for hearing at two
o'clock in the afternoon the affair took
tho form of genuine sensation. The
arrest was the outcome of disclosures made
during the past two weeks by Morris NJ.
Matthews, commission merchant, living
at 524 Fairmount avenue. According to
the statement of Mr.. John Field, Of the
committee of one hundred. Matthews con-
fessed to members of the committee that
Major Phipps gave him q bill for $1,000
worth of goods for which only $5, 600 worth
of supplies werc furnished. Fearing de-
lection Matthews unbosomed himself to
the committee of one hundred. Several
members of tho committee held a secret
meeting On Thursday, and after discussing
tho affair decided to procure tho arrest Of
Mr.. Phipps. ...
Matthews swOre TO an affidavit charging
Mr.. Phipps with conspiring with. various
persons, whose names are not mentioned,
to defraud the city of Philadelphia with
having embeZzled in ono instance over
So, 600, and with having defraudcd tho
city by drawing fraudulent warrants.
Accompanying tho affidavit OF Matthews
was the sworn statement of Councilman
Grim stating that he believed in the truth
of tho facts as set forth in tho affidavit
of Matthews. A warrant was thereupon
issued and given to Mr.. Blank.
enburg, who placed it in the hands OF
Detective Miller, of Miller Il Sharkey's g
agency. The officer found MIR. Phipps
about o'clock at his homo OH the aims
house grounds. When he was taken into
custody Major Phipps was very much sur
prised at the sudden proceeding and mani
tested considerable nervous agitation.
Ordering carriage, tho major and detsc-
tive, Miller, were driven by tho formers
direction to tho residence of Councilman
Rowan, who was informed of tho arrest.
He joined the party, and tho trio pro-
ceeded to the house of MIR. Phipps'
counsel, George w. Harkins. After some
search, Magistrate Ladner was found. The
official released Mr.. Phipps under 81, 1000
bail, Mr.. Rowman entering his bond for
the required security. When tho time for
the hearing at the Central station arrived,
that place was crowded to its utmost by
persons representing nearly every munich
pal department., but Mr.. Phipps' presence
was not apparent. At twenty-five min
ntes after two o'clock George W. Harkins
and John p. Sloan, the defendants law
yers, entered the apartment and informed
| the magistrate that they had waited ut
their Offices for MIR. Phipps, but that he
did not put in an appearance. MIR. DreGSy
then remarked that tho law should take
its course and tho bail be forfeited. Mr..
Harkins protested against this course, Oh
tho ground that tho defendant might bc
| ill or unavoidably delayed for some other
cause. The bail, however, after further
| wrangling between the lawyers, was for
feited. Another warrant was then issued
for Mr.. Phipp's arrest, and placed in the
| hands Of Detective Miller. Nobody ap.
peared to know tho whereabouts of Major
Phipps, and even MIR. Rowan prOfessed to
| he nOnplusscd at his sudden disappear
| ance.
Search was Immediately instituted for
! tho major by the authorities, but up to
| last hour last night his whereabouts was
still a mystery. 1t was rumored that MIR.
/! Phipps was very much effected by his
| arrest. and fears were entertained that
no had ended his troubles by self-destruc
| tiOn.
Suit was yesterday begun against Major
Phipps by Nina, widow and exccutrix of
tho late William IL. Taylor, upon 4 prom.
isOry note for S2S9.2S, dated January "a,
1880, payable three months after date.
George II. Earle, counsel for tho Com
mittce of One Hundred, said that the de-
velopments leading to the arrest were not
unexpected by him. From tho rc-
cord of this man Phipps," said Mr.. Earle,
81 was not surprised that this charge
should be made against him. Facts have
been accumulating and coming under my
notice that 20 to show that the aimshouse
| during the past several years, has been a
nursery of such rottenncss as almost
passes credibility. have very recently
learned, among other things, that at .
time when the inmates were suffering
from the COLI for want Of sufficient COW
ering large supply of blankets were
bought and wero no sooner in the insti-
ton than they were taken right out again
and sold for the private benefit Of al Off
cial. think it may DO assumed with
safety that tho day of reckoning has como.
| 1t is believed the fraud amounts to $780,
600.
Through the influence and friendship Of
Mr.. Rowan Major Phipps was in 1872,
whom chief clerk in the United States ap-
praiser's department in Philadelphia,
elected a member of tho board of guar
dams of the poor. A year later he be-
came SUPERINTENDENT Of the institution,
and remained there until the present time
He aspired to tho Of1ice OF receiver of
taxes last year, but in convention with.
drew his liamo in favor of George G.
Pierie, who became the Republican nomi
nee. He has for years been an active Re-
publican politician and was prominent in
all movements of the Grand Army of tho
Republic.
Where 10 StOrekeeper Brown?
Tho arrest of Major Phipps is only the
precursor Of tho prosecution, as evidence
is in existence which proves the completely
in the fraud of other officials. Ex-StOre-
keeper James F. Brown has certified that
every one of the fraudulent bills was cor
rect, and it has been his special duty to
see that such was tho case. Early in tho
morning he called upon Secretary Floyd,
of tho board of guardians, and asked for
his warrant for August. Mr.. Floyd do
clincd to give up the warrant, and after
in vain endeavOring to persuade him to
relent and send it to President IIuggard
in advance of the others for the month,
Brown left the Office.