The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-10
A BIG CONSPIRACY
How the Arsenal Pottery at
Trenton Was Robbed.
GOODS WORTH 100000 STOLEN
Trusted Nephew Of the Owner at the
L. Bottom Of the Scheme

He Stole steadily for Six Years Had Com
fed crates in New York, Philadelphia
aud Ohio, who Received the Stolen
Ware and shared tho Profts-A Num-
! Der of Arrests.
TnENToN, n. j., Nov. 10.-The arrest
Of W. W. Sweet invoice clerk of the
Arsenal Pottery here, brings to light one
of the greatest conspiracies known in
Tsenton since the robbery of OFT and
brewer in a similar manner about ten
years ago
{ Sweet had upwards of ten confoder-
htes, who were receiving the goods and
disposing Of them ia other cities at less
than cost to manufacture, and although
the amount taken cannot be exactly
learned owing to the time that the oper-
utions have been going on, Joseph
Mayer tine proprietor, says that it will
Eeach 100000.
Morris llcers and Frank Work Shat
Ger Of Philadelphia are under arrest
in that city ANA Sweet his wife and
lsauC Levy are behind the bars in Tren-
ton, ON the charge Of being concerned in
The conspiracy.
Sweet had accomplices in New York,
and even as far as Ohio and the detec-
tives are now watching for proof upon
which to arrest them.
Sweet apparently had entered into a
big conspiracy with outsiders to ruin
his employer. According to state
munt by him he did not suggest the
thing first, but crockery dealers came to
him and offered to divide profits if he
would send them extra goods when they
sent an order 1t is apparent that if ne
had not been caught just at this time
he soon would have caused the failure of
the pottery. More than 81, 200 worth of
goods, which were not entered on the
books, were sent out by him last week
Sweets manner Of defrauding Mayer
was a common one, which would not he
thought of by Mayer. When an order
would be sent in for $40 worth Of goods
Sweet would send it to the packing room
with orders to have it packed. The
goods would then be shipped and tho or
der returned to him. Instead OF mark
ing it shipped he would allow it to
lie on his desk for day or two, when
his attention would be called to it, and
he would again ship the same order.
Thus would two orders be sent to the
s"we nerson for the price of one, This
he has done rs often AS four times on
single order.
The stealings last year amounted to
something enormous, and added to a
number Of bad speculations, involved
Mayer heavily in debt. Mayer called
his men together one day aud told them
that he knew that goods were disap-
pearing from the place, but that he was
unable to lind out who was stealing
them. He asked them if they would
not let up on him, saying that II they
did not they would ruin him. All pro-
fessed innocence, but the robberies con-
tinued for a time. Then they suddenly
ceased.
About five months ago Mayer was in
Philadelphia taking orders for his goods
when he was surprised to see some ware
from his pottery in an auction store.
He knew that he had not been selling
anything in that city, and at once sus-
pecued that it was some of the stolen
goods. He went into the place and
quoted the prices on goods Of exactly the
same make, but they informed him that
they could buy them at price which
Mayer said was sixty cents lower than
he could afford to make them for. lie
was compelled after this to sell his
goods twenty per cent lower than usual
in order TO keep his trade.
Soon after his discovery of the goods
iu Philadelphia Mayer informed the
chief of police of trenton. When the
story was told the police could hardly be-
lieve It,, but as soon as the detectives got
70 work on the case they found that
Mayors story was true. Packages OF
goods were shipped to fences in New
York and Philadelphia almost daily and
no one knew of it. At length two tags
in Sweets handwriting were taken from
two large hogsheads of ware and then
the detectives decided that they had the
right man. The ware was most al
costly and consisted of fine vases, urns,
fancy pitchers and dishes.
Detective Piger Of Trenton, and De
tective Bond Of Philadelphia, arrested
William Eardley of Philadelphia yester
day afternoon Up to about year age
Eardley was employed as a packer at tn,
Mayer pottery. Sweet says that Eard
ley put him up TO stealing. Eardle.
has been employed in the wholesale glas
house Of Wright, Tindall q Thomas fl
Philadelphia since leaving Trenton.