New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-25
BOGUS WELSBACH LIGHTS
FIVE MEN INDICTED FOR GRAND LAR
CENY AND CONSPIRACY.
-,,,, u-rtsp,cu COMPANY SAYS IT HAS SUI
FERFD GREATLY BY THE TRADE ~
THE FRAUDULENT LIGHTS.

ro- several months number OF peia'S anu
ece,,s Dowory clearinghouse resiish'S' nav
roollug the marke. Of New-fork 'i'y anu 10 80
,,-ii,te vicinity with bogus Nrsoach Hsh'9' -"
y.s,lgat!on .. numerous complaints seh' - "'e
head Offices OF the company in New-forK ana hrooN-
Ia, concerning lights that had been installed re-
yc,,ed that they were we'll founded. ana 'hAt t''e
-n.utle. that nal been sold ana put w "' SOM ~
me realors were not We.Hbach hghia' DIX oe''''
constructed limitations that Tor an hoI' u "'o'0
,r.r lighting gave a brilliant light and then cor
iap.eA John r. Bennett. the counsel OF the "''S-
h,cb Company Immediately placed the matter De.
Tor. Dls,rir,-Att9rney Fellows. ard WIKI the a''
n, sergean, Heidelberg. Pnkerion's Agency ana me
oor. authorities the investigation has been prose-
cutel The March Grand Jury took the case !"
hand and yesterday found 'orty-'Ho o'''S u III
d.ctment against The offenders.
All the bogus lights that have been secuf'i !" e''
do,c. w.r. hacked IN genuine Wesbach boxes
Witch the consp!ra,ors collected from places where
genuine NANTES had been cod. Others were IN
boxes closely Initiating the Weisbach box without
N. name or trademark "We.sbach' thereon.
Nben tho authorities have disposed OF the IN
dicted parties proceedings VIII De tAkel "Ea''''' "
,r,nsers OF the patent and users OF the bogus man
,ies I, is estimated that In the last four months
many thousands OF these bogus lights nave pee"
sold to the injury OF the company. which mas -
,.nded nearly a million dollars IN developing anu
nerrcct,nr the Auer system under which me man
covers the history OF several thousand nantes
which have been traced from the hidden factory
whore they were made. through the hands OF ma
die men into the shops and houses OF the users "c
Dlstr,ct-Attorney has decided as the heads OF the
conspiracy are now In jail. to do nothing Tor the
nresent with about thirty others known to be Nm
n,cated Some OF those who have been under
police surveillance have been In the employ OF 'he
company and others still apparently ENJOY the con-
ndence OF their employers ,
some Of the prisoners under Indictment are known
10 have been Interested in the proceeds OF me roo.
berry OF shipment OF Meisoach H,'''''S The NV
Jersey police s:!.l investigating ms HIdhch ol
the case Part OF Ihe s me sam6
mantles which have been identified as part Oh the
'o The nTen.ses No city Hall Place which sew
.ral detec, yes in the employ Of me acn com
pany gained access. was guarded me d cVui.s'
f.lter's DEN on knocking az the door sma. peep
80 vim a sliding shutter was opened, ana the
Visitor was questioned and inspected before the bol'
was withdrawn. THIS place, wnich WAS IN 'h en- Se
~ the Sperling Brothers under the firm tie OF the
* II smith Manufacturing Company. wa one OF
the downtown distributing agencies Tor the uosu
old Astor Place Hotel. Thrd-avc. ana Eighth-st
and Elsewhere The same secrecy that was OBJ
served AT No. City Hall Pace was maintained al
The factory in the Aston Place Hotel This factory
was on the seventh floor OF the rear buiidlhG ana
guarded day ana mehld g so as 70 be-
aria :, move up and down stairs to and from TIE
th.rd floor. where they maihtalhed an oS'ehs'o'e
This arst batch OF indictments does not include
any OF the uptown places. which are sun uhder IN
Vnn,scva ssreeants Cum and Mcknight yes;er-
day arrested Ave mon accused Of conduct.ng the con
eniracv 10 defraud the Wesbach Company me
nrrisoners were John Barry and Jacob BERNIE. n
who live AT the Aston Place Hotel; william 4nI 1ogi
sperling Of 10 cy Hs mace T rfa We're n
dIcted for grand larceny and conspiracy. ne men
viii be arragned in General Sessions to-day