The Evening critic., 1882-09-06
MONUMENTAL MEANNEss.
Ellis Il. Phipps, the mcancst aud
Most Contemplate Thierof the Aae
-Robbing the Poor who are Com.
PEELED 10 Seek shelter fin an Aims.

-nObbing the Poor WHO are Com.
PEELED 10 Seek shelter in an Aims
house.
The Investigations into the peculatlons OF
Major Ellis =. Phipps, tho ox'superintcndent
oftho Philadelphia almshousc, are producing
some sensational Developments Phlpps was
arrested last Thursday night on a charge OF
ombezzllng city money, the specific sum
named being $4,000, although 1t was we'll
understood that this was merely formal
amount, and that more cr0okednoss would DO
nut in evidence nj tho trial. Councilman W.
Ellwood Rowan, promlnont city politician,
wen, bail In the sum OF $4,000 for Phlpps'
appearance before magistrate the
next day. and tho alleged defaulter was 70.
leased until that time. Since then nothing
has boon heard OF him, although his bail was
forfeited at once, and detectives havesbc
hunting for him ever since. Major Phipps
had been superintendent OF the almshouse
since 1875, and his name had figured IN tho
old board OF guardians, but 1t was supposed
That the superintendent, although he might
havebe concerned In disreputabc transac.
lions, wns only tool IN tho hands of his su.
periors, and little attention was paid to him.
The citizens committee Of one hundred, how
ever, which has been investigating his actions
for some time, finally decided to
have him arrested. This was dono
the day his term Of ol1lco expired. When
Phipps Ned, without waiting for a preliminary
examination, a moro searching investigation
was begun, which resulted In finding c)nvinc.
Ing proof Of his guilt. In anticipation of his
removal Phipps had taken rooms for himself
and wifowith Mrs. Adams, an ex-matron of the
almshouse, at No. $40 Walnut street, and
here an investigating committee, armed with
search warrant, found last Sunday Ave wagon
loads OF almshouse goods which had beon
taken there from time To time on acquisitions
made by Major Phlpps.
Other acquisitions were found which showed
that great many more goods were missing,
aud Monday morning another search was
made nj the same place. The house was
found TO contain enough goods to furnish n
large store, the list embracing many articles
not usually found In poorhouses, but which
had at least gone through the formality Of en-.
tering and leaving the,almshouse. There were,
among other things, 200 Jars of preserved
fruits, two gallons OF French brandy, two gal
Ions OF Holland gin, twenty-five bottles OF Wine,
one case OF champagne, one barrel OF sugar,
one barrel of lard and q miscellaneous collec.
ton OF articles usually found In grocery
stores, ranging from Ave dozen scrubbing.
brushes to ilfty pounds OF cofree and nino
pounds of tea Most Of the buckets, pans and
other utensils were filled with sugar, tea or
other groceries, and carefully wrapped In
paper. There was, II possible, a still larger
assortment OF dry goods In unbroken rolls,
ranging from brown muslin and common
prints TO satin dnmask and heavy flannels.
All these things were locked up In closets or
hidden away In dark places. dumb.waiter
was found suspended half way between tho
floors and filled with rolls of uncut muslin and
packages OF towellng and table linen. A now
porcelain-llned ice-coeler was found filled with
sugar. Two slop Jars were tilled with the same
article, and there were bundles of children's
stockings, boxes Of combs and nne cutlery,
boxes OF hooks and eyes, dozen tooth.brushes,
and many other things that seemed TO have
been taken for no particular use but In obedi.
ence to some blind predatory mania. The
total value of the articles found Monday Is es-
tlmated at $4,000. In q drawer OF locked
desk was found bundle OF mutilated duo
bills, dating all the way back to the Majors
entrance upon his official dutlos and amount.
Ing, 1t was estimated, to at least $250,OO0.
They confirm al the stories that have boen
and negotiating, and were all for cash bor-
rowed or supplies purchased. The names OF
the persons In whose favor they were drawn
were all erased or cut out. small iron safe
was also found. 1t was locked, and was taken
TO the almshouse to be opened.
The fact that Major phipps was financially
been well Known. He borrowed from his
friends and gave his personal notes for sup
plies furnished the almshouse. number of
him within the past year TO recover money.
The Peoples Bank instituted an action on All.
months promissory note drawn to. Phlpps
own order, and Endorsed by William M. Bum,
OF the Sunday Transcript. The West Phlladel.
phia Bank has also sued to recover $4,000
upon note drawn by Phipps 10 his own order
and Endorsed by Councilman w. Elwood Rowan
and Samuel L. Craig.
that Major Phipps's disappearance was not al.
together OF his own volition, but was brought
about by the pressure OF those who would have
been badly ''shown up" by legal investiga.
ton OF the late superintendonts acts. Major
Phipps was not recognized as man OF wealth,
and was frequently at his Wits ends to raise
sufficient means TO meet his private wants.
contractor who knows the Inns and outs of the
almshouse pretty we'll says that Phipps was
nothing more than the Jealous and obedient
servant of the board OF guardians. When the
population Of the moneys sent from the differ.
emit counties which had insane patients Mt
Blockley was discovered the guardians were
ordered by the City Solicitor TO make good tho
100000 thus stolen, under penalty OF being
held criIninally responsible. This frightened
them, and they made every effort to raise the
money. II was then that the crooked business
OF the contractors began, when only one-half
the quantity OF goods returned as supplied was
sent, and when the warrants were drawn for
the full amount The lions share Of all this
dirty work fell to Phipps, and that was why he
the "kite-hying system OF raising money by
taking up notes with notes.
The record of warrants for the present rear
prior to september, In payment OF the aims
tho ex.superintcndents extravagances ran so
high that his successor Will hardly be able to
run the establishment until January without
an additional appropriation from the councils.
The appropriation to the guardians OF the poor
for the year 1882 was 1922, Is. ofthis amount
elusive OF the September warrants, consider.
ably over 100000. Up to August Is the coal
contractors had drawn upon warrants 49,.
986.29. The coal appropriation was 100000,
20 that the new superintendent, Mr.. Scar.
borough, has only margin OF ~ cents to run
on should the coal give out during the winter.
In the item for meats only about S11,1OO re-
mains out OF $4,000, while for shoes and hats
Phipps has xpended all but 81 30 of an ap-
preparation OF $4,000.