The daily gazette., 1882-09-08
WILMINGTON. DEL. FRIDAY, sEPTEMBER 8, 1882.
RosslNa THE PAUPERs.
Phipps Said to be Near PhiIadelPhia-Al
AlmshOuse EmPloye Tells What HI


Phipps Said to be Near PhiIadelphia-An
AlmshOuse EmpIoye Tells What He
Knows.
1t is stated by some of the friends of Ma
jor Phipps, the missing Almshouse Superin-
tendent of Philadelphia, that he is within
easy summons of that city, and when the
proper time comes he will appear and face
the music. They claim that he left fearing
bail after his hearing would be fixed too high,
and that when that matter was settled he
would put in an appearance and tell some
facts that would startle the public.
Yesterday John B. Snyder, superintendent
of the manufacturing department of the
Almshouse, was before District Attorney
Graham, and told what he knew of official
wickedness.
This confession is one Of the most im-
portant which has yet been made, aud there
seems to be little cause to doubt but that 1t,
as much as anything else, will throw light
upon the mixed condition of affairs, only
partially exposed by the arrest of Major
Phipps, and that those who are endeavoring
to unravel the mystery have secured many
valuable points on which they can work
Snyder entered the Almshouse as a hospital
patient over eleven years ago; was after
ward nurse, and about ten years since was
given the position of superintendent of the
manufacturing department, which he has
occupied ever since. He was hence very
familiar with the course of events at Block
ley, and feeling that there was a chance of
his being in some way implicated in the dark
deeds which occurred there, he decided
that 1t would be best to make a
clean breast of what he knew. He there
fore communicated with District Attorney
Graham, and, it having been arranged,
Snyder met the committee at the District
aug Ia fata e
under oath which are represented as being
very important, among which was a detail
of numerous frauds, wherein goods to the
value of several thousands of dollars that
were never bought had been charged against
the appropriation of Councils. 1t is inti-
mated that his revelations were far more
startling than those expected from Matthews,
because they involve transactions with a
number of contractors, and even implicate
several members of the old Board OF
Guardians. There was suspicion
when Snyder testified before the investi-
eating committee some time ago, that
| he knew more than he chose to tell, but at
that time the same incentive to confession
| did not exist. Relieved of the restraint
which Major Phipps and the rest exercised
| over him, he has lately been more disposed
to talk; and though his confession wai
partially voluntary, 1t was semi-obligatory,
| on account of the risk which he ran o
criminal prosecution. After taking Snyder
confession, which was not made public fo
reasons of a weighty character, the investi
eating committee called upon Controlle
Pattison, in the new public building OIL
Broad street, and with him examined
certain bills of the Almshouse 70
1872. Among the papers whicl
| came under the committees examination
were the contracts for flour, corn and corr
meal for the Almshouse for the presen
year. The expenditures for this brancl
already aggregate S27, 1875, and the prin
cipal contractors named are Robert j
Mcknight, Frederick Sneeler, w. s. Woods
H. II. Meyers and Brooke & Pugle. Th
committee transacted no further business
being content TO let the Investigations res
until to-day. District Attorney Graham sal
last night that there had been no furthe
arrests, and for the present there would nc
he any. He said it was not that the invest
gators did not contemplate more arrests, bU
such evidence as was in hand so far was ne
sufficient to warrant action.