Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-29
CORBErT CONFEsSES.


BONDS In ChicagO-His Operations
In Rock IsIant Fully Described.
Otis Corbett. he former Rock Island
merchant. whose implication with the
disposal of bondsand coupons stolen in
Chicago, has been related in the ARGUS,
reposes in Jail al Chicago. having been
taken TO that city from What Cheer, Ia, ,
his present home. According to today's
Chicago Nescs, when Corbett was taken
before Inspector Bonfleld Yesterday, he
told the same story of his connection
with the stolen bond case that has been
stated in the ARGUS. The Ne,os SAYS
| further:
Corbett is the father.in- law of W. F.
Shaw and is the last of the quartet under
Indictment for burglary and receiving
stolen property. He was also director
IN the Columbia Building and Loan asso
citation. Corbett Was formerly mer-
chant in Rock Island. One day, he said,
man came into his store, bought three
suits of clothes, and rendered coupons
valued at $S7 in payment Corbett said
the man gave his name as c. H. Jones, of
| Freeport, Ill. His description of him
answered Henry Plessner's appearance
exactly. After hearing the story the 10,
spector asked:
do you know Henry Plessnery"
Il have known him two wears"
'Did Won NOT kpow ba u,.a III, .,,o-
who, on Sept. "a, gave you the cou>
ponsS'
Il did. but I wanted to save Frank
| Shaw"
In his first story Corbett said that the
alleged stranger showed him bonds from
which the coupons Were taken, but yes.
terday ne modified this BY saying he only
saw the package in which they were con-
tanned The inspector then read from
the statements of Shaw and Plessner to
the effect that Shaw had confessed that
the bonds were sent out to Rock Island
"for test Corbett weakened after
bearing the previously published
statements of his two accom-
plices, and by his actions, if not
directly by words, said that he had
full knowledge that the transaction
was fraudulent one. Shaw made up
the whole story he told to Officer Palmer
| The test was arranged very cleverly,
except in one particular. Clerking in
| Corbetts store was Miss Thomson,
who saw Plessuer when he negotiated the
coupons. She was also in the store when
Detective Palmer called for description
| Of the man, and assisted in giving it so
that complete description was obtained
| The police never understood until yes.
terday why Corbett so thoroughly de-
scribed Plessner 1t was due TO the
presence of Misc Thompson. who, limos
cent of any wrong, unconsciously forced
the truth from Cnrbett as to the appear
snce of the coupon customer At the
very time the officer was talking to Cor.
bett, Shaw was in the store and Plessner
was IN Rock Island Shaw then learned
that detectives were al work on the great
case they since developed.
That was on Sept 30. after $37 worth
| OF coupons had been returned 10 the
bankers, Mitchell & Lynde, by Chicago
and eastern bankers, with report that
they had been stolen Mitchell & Lvndt
notified CoTbett that they had been stolen,
information Corbett gully withheld
from the police, while al the time be
knew Ptessner was in the immediate
| vicinity and Shaw was within few feet
of him. When the coupons were re-
turned COrbett found himself loser on
the merchandise he sold Pessner. but be
never solicited Plessner for the balance
The police do not believe the goods DUR,
chased were ever delivered. The scheme
was well concocted one, but it's failure
proves crlminslity on the part of the
trio. Corbett, Pessner, snd Shaw, who
are all in the county jail. Corbett hal
the returned coupons in his possession
when arrested,
Receiver John F Moody Yesterday
| bl-d HE bond of so5, 900 With o..
Schneider as surety, and took charge OF
the affairs of the Columbia Building as
ISOLATION and practically those of the
Commercial association. for, BY the
courts order. no papers can De taken
from the Joint Offices of the two con
Germs. This is very embarrassing fol
shaw. as letter written to him by Cor.
bett since last Sunday is among the pa
prs Inspector Bonfield has an idea
that there is much valuable information
In the letter, and will try to get an order
allowing him to open it. Lawyel
Moffett, who is one of Shsw's many at
torneys, has been haunting the office.
Tor week for the evident purpose Of
getting this letter Shaw is said to b.
anxious about its whereabouts.
In What Cheer Detective Paine
learned that the people there had sen
$1,000 to Shaw's building association
buring the last eight months.