Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-23
SYSTEMATIC STEALING.
A Down East Bookkeaper Under
Arrest.

Heavy Larceny Of Money and lswelry
The Usual Effects Of Small
Salary and a Thieviag
Disposition.
SUNDAYS CRIMINAL OCCURRENCES.
LYNN, MASS, October 22.-Philip A. viii
son was arrested here yesterday afternoon
on the charge of larceny, and 1t is believed
his peculation will amount to SIS, 900 or
$4,000. The arrest was made by Detective
Hanscom, of the Lynn police force, and
nearly $4,000 in money and large
amount of jewelry recovered Some nine
weeks ago Wilson entered the employ OF
Francis Kenney & Son, vino keep fish
market in Union Square, as book keeper.
He had the entire charge Of the books, but
one of the firm kept a private cash account
and 1t was owing to the latter fact that
Wilson's peculations were discovered and
the dishonest book keeper arrested. Upto
yesterday fnoznine -the- -anss had -nisssa
$3.50, and then'a
Trap Was Set to Detect Wilson.
A five dollar bill was marked and the
number recorded, and early yesterday
morning it was dropped on the floor of the
market. Shortly after Wilson was request
ed to sweep the market floor, which he
did. Wilson was closely watched and was
observed to pick up the bill and put II in
his hip pocket. Mr.. Kenney waited several
hours for the bill to be returned, and even
put himself in the way of Wilson in order
TO give him an opportunity to return the
| money. He did not do so and Mr.. Kenney
reported the matter to the police. Detect
| i've Hanscom was detailed to work up the
case, and he Immediately proceeded to the
market and had long talk with Wilson.
Wilson stoutly asserted that he did not
have the money, and further claimed that
he did not have any money about him.
| Tie detective then commenced to search
Wilson, during which the latter tiled to
get the money out of his pocket, but was
| detected in the act, and the s. bill marked
and numbered as per Kenney's memoran-
dunn was secured. Wilson then admitted
| that he had found the money on the floor
and
Confessed TO the Larceny OF $1,000
from Kenney & Son. Detective Hanscom,
accompanied by Wilson and Ansel I. Bart.
lett. an employe in the market, then pro-
| ceeded to Wilson's house, and the detective
| informed Wilson that he proposed to search
| the house. Wilson's brother was found at
| the house, and he urged the culprit to
| make a clean breast Of Ii and acknowledge
| all the REGULATIONS he had committed.
| Wilson thought the matter over few mo-
| ments, and then calling his brother to one
| eide held quite a protracted conversation,
! and finally gave him a key, with the re-
! quest that he would bring some packages
from another room. The brother dissp-.
l. peared, and a few minutes later reappeared
| with tin box and Russia leather jewel
case. In the meantime Wilson had opened
| large trunk in the room in which the
| officer was waiting, and after tumbling over
| the contents
Pound $500 I'm Money,
| which he gave to the officer. He had told
| the officer at the market that il he would
accompany him to his home he would turn
over the 81 900 which he had stolen from
| Kenney Il Son, but all he could find in the
| trunk was the $500 above referred to. The
| tin box was then examined and found to
contain $9,00l.5l in envelopes, $50 in each,
marked "P.: A. Wilson, printer, No. l3
| Williams street." the small change being
| loose in the box. The jewel case was found
| TO contain the following articles A gold
| gold studs. four pair of gold cuff buttons,
| ten finger rings, three gents gold chains,
two ladies' gold chains, tSree silver chains,
one pair gold bracelets a Temple of Honor
pin, two Good Templars' pins, eight or ten
gold pieces, half.dozen silver nut picks,
eight gold watch chains and about gross
of lead pencils. Wilson did not seem the
least concerned when the box and jewel
cases were being unpacked and after the work
was completed he quietly accompanied the
officer to the police station, where he was
Placed Behind the Bars.
When asked what he thought his father
and mother would say at his transgressions
he replied that he did not care. Late in
the evening Kenny & Son made a further
investigation of their books, going over the
records prior to the time that watch was
set upon Wilson, and they find that they
had been defrauded out OF $3.50. Some
two years ago Wilson entered the employ
of Stephen n. Breed, lumber dealer, as
book-keeper, and while at this place robbed
bis employer of about 81 900. Leaving this
place a year ago last April, he obtained
employ ment at the carpet establishment OF
William +. Goldsmith K Co, No 123 Union
street. In this place he was employed as
book.keeper, and he also had access to the
money drawer of c. NJ Ranger, paper hang.
ings, in the same establishment. He re-
msined here until June last, when he was
Discharged for Incompetency.
Since Wilson's arrest, Mr.. Geldsmi ith has
been looking over his books, and thus far
finds that he has lost LOCO. He further
finds that Wilson received his money from
customers, and receipted the bills but
failed to enter them upon the cash book or
turn over the money Mr. Goldsmith is
still engaged in investigating his books, and
the probabilities are that he will find eyi.
dence OF greater loss.
The full extent Of Wilson'S embs zle-
ments cannot now be ascertaIned, but they
must reach q large sum. He Is about
twenty-one years OF age, and up TO the
present time has always borne good rep
utatiOn His father and mother both re-
side in this city, and they feel keenly their
sons disgrace. The suspicion OF Keeney
Son was first excited last Tuesday night.
On that evening they left $50 in desk
drawer in the market and npon their re-
turn shortly after
Tho Money Was Gone.
and there was evidence Of the drawer hav-
ing been pried open. Prior 10 this time
they had come to the conclusion that
something was wrong. as they had pur.
chased and sold the same quantity OF
goods that they had been disposing Oh be-
fore, and yet they did not receive so mnch
| money No reason can be assigned for
Wilson's transgressions, unless il be klepto-
| mania. He always dressed well, but was
| not over-dressed; his habits were good he
kent good heurs, and his actions would
seem 10 indicate that he was living On
moderate salarJ. He never displayed
much jewelry, and bis former employer
| never doubted his honesty. His pay st the
| last place be worked was only IS per week,
and his way Of living did not seem 20 re.
auire more than that sum.