New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-07
EXTENSIVE SILK THEPTS
MANUFACTURERS LEARN THAT ruvv
ARE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY RoBBrn
EMPLOYEES HOLDING IMPORTANT piazza
SUSPECTED OF BEING IN coLLusIoN'
WITH AN ORGANIZED GANG

Paterson. Sept (speciaD. Extensive robb.,,..
In silk mills were discovered here las, v..,
and sensational developments are expected "a :.
suit. SILK manufacturers say they have discovs,..
an organized conspiracy under which they b.
been Systematically reeced by gang OF swlndl.,.
holding places Of trust in their establishments.
Pieces Of broad silk. 1t Is charged. have ~.
stolen private marks destroyed and the good. .,,.
by pedlers In Northern New-Jersey counties TIL.
practice and the fact that silks sold a, nr,c.
defying competition caused an investigates "
was found that not only mad goods been stola, :.
the finished product. but silk tram and NO.
zine had been taken away In small packages IT,,
ing total loss Of several thousand dollars a,,s,
among half dozen mills
The full details have not been made n,hI,o go
is said that the persons implicated are hlgbl ~
nected and that In TWO cases at least relatives b~
agreed to make good the amount OF The 80.
Part of the stolen booty. 1t is hoped NAV s,,u :.
recovered. The system adopted has not been ,rn,
learned, but several persons have been suspendaS
from places Of responsibility, with 1870, 'u
prospect OF criminal prosecution. III. ",ss"'a
through which the goods placed on ~. ."'e
1t Is asserted Is well known and Is md, '
, lance, that goods cannot be removed ,,,..'.
series OF arrests being made at once
The operations OF the swlndlers date hscl ou,.
last June. but In that short period an exam,r.,,e
OF manufacturers books disclosed loss OF sevs,,,
thousand dollars upon mere cursory lnves,iga.
ton. The wife OF a prominent manufacture NJ.
the first to gain an inkling Of the truth WI
stopping at a country hotel in Sussex County an.
met pedler. who offered bargain In A piece q,
silk at 80 cents yard. II was exactly similar .,
goods she had been told cost s1is cents a ward >.
produce She bought the piece and week l,,s,
surprised her husband by relating how IL had cou.
into her possession. Inquiry showed that peds,,
had been visiting dressmakers In the surround,,,
country. who eagerly snapped UP the bargain,
offered. When the manufacturer returned shor,
age In the books Of his firm was detected The AZ.
counts Of the foreman Of the weaving department
and the books OF the shipping clerk did not tally
The parties concerned at once suspended
The puzzng feature is the manner in which
goods removed. Every mil has a system "a
prevent fraud but this has not blocked the work a,
the thieves. 1t is definitely known that silk valued
at from Loo to 81 500 has been stolen from the po
neer SILK Company. Part OF this stolen silk ~.
sold, according to the statement OF a mill superin
tendent to dressmakers living right In the city vha
should have known that the goods could not hays
been placed honestly on the market at the price
A manufacturer admitted to-day that robbede,
nad taken place, but was loath TO give information
lie positively refused 10 mention names as IL might
Interfere with the capture of the thieves
Upon making an investgat ton" he said II found
our rule that no silk should pass from one hand "a
another without receipt had been violated TN
result showed loss OF goods. II was impossible "a
secure confession, as all persons implicated In.
sisted upon their innocence. IL was Impossible "a
watch every parcel. and goods might easily have
been shipped TO outside parties. The same gang
however, must have been operating I'm other mills
and 1t appears the parties were in collision with
one or more persons on the inside OF each mill
~ may nave been that some people purchased
goods believing they were stock from the sale OF an
EMBARRASSED manufacturer. bur there could be ma
such excuse when II comes disposing of organzrs
ana tram; You may judge how bold they vera
"hen tell you that they actually made away with
peculiarly constructed cases worth $50 each Thee
are missing, and were used undoubtedly in sending
SIX 10 the fence. This fence is In lower Mar.
ket-st. " N' 'Aa''
GOODS manufactured In other mills were orered
Tor sale at as rdculously low prices as were on,
goods ! recognized goods which came from our
lnlli ana also some from at least one other pa,er.
son mill The firm which manufactures the good,
10 wnich l refer is of the richest in the citv
ana Is not compelled 10 sell silk below the cost a;
Piouucton. Inc same thieves who were operating
mill. '''" 4ioin the o'nel
w men Will arrests be made? On Tuesday shall
an diluaVit from one OF the persons who vss
Instrumental In carrying out this robbery ma r,.S
eh oai1t determine what will be done II would
ououoteuy serve some people right to secure ,btr
arrest as receivers of stolen goods Wera :, M,
TIA. , innocent persons might suffer several nersors
would be In Jail by this time We eynect - sa
lui concessions and restitution and also ~ nurss
outsiue parties who cannot escape" ''"''"