Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-11
ORGANIZED THEFT.
Four Lynn Women Arrested and
Arraigned.
Glue Game From Maine - Alleged
"Fence" Under Surveillance.

LYNN, Mass, Dec. "a big conspiracy
has been unearthed here for the systematic
robbing OF dry good stores. Four women
part or the whole OF the thieves have
been arrested and arraigned In court and the
end Is said not to be yet. The "fence' or
receiver Of the goods Is strongly suspected
and Is under close surveillance. Several
thousand dollars worth of miscellaneous ar
ticles such as are kept in any large
dry goods stOre-wearing apparel, bric-
a-bric, jewelry, fine shoes, etc.-have
been recovered. The four arrested
women are Mrs. Clara Phillips. wife OF
Lincoln Phillips. u shoemaker; Miss Lulu
Cobb, a sister OF Mrs. Phillips, living on Lillian
avenue Miss Florence Manson, living at "a
Summer street Mrs. Ida NJ. Houston. living
at 80 Cherry street. The first arrest made,
and the one which led up to the arrest Of tho
others, was that Of Mrs. Phillips. who was
taken into custody by Sergeant Fitzgerald
brother-in-law on Laighton street.
Her arrest was accomplished by
means of letter which City Marshal
Burckes received from Chief of Police Call
OF Waterville, Me-. few days ago. This
letter stated that certain goods had been
stolen from dry good stores In that city, and
requested Marshal Burckes to try and fol-
low them up in Lynn. Mrs. Phillips had
been visiting her parents In that city about
month and returned to Lynn about three
weeks ago. After she left the goods were
missed. and 1t WINS suspected that she had
stolen them. After she was arrested the rest
was easy. She simply "squealed." 1t was
made still easier by reason OF quarrel she
and Mrs. Houston had some weeks ago.
Mrs. Phillips laid her arrest to information
| furnished by Mrs. Houston and the police
cleverly played on this idea. The women
! had ali moved in good society ana had peen
very prominent in church and secret society
work.
The merchants OF Waterville have voted
to demand the return of Mrs. Phillips to
Watervilc to answer charge OF theft there,
and Marshal Call has telegraphed the Lynn
police that he will want the woman when
the Lynn officials have established their
case. Mrs. Clara Phillips and Lulu Cobb
city. Mr.. Cobb is an emplOye Of the Maine
Central railroad and respected citizen. The
present Mrs. Cobb is not the mother Of the
women. The first Mrs. Cobb died about rs
years ago. The family moved to Water
Vile about sixteen years ago from Port
| land. Clara and Lulu went from Waterville
| to Norway about seven years ago, where
Clara met and married Lincoln Phillips.
Soon afterward they moved to Lynn. This
summer she was in Maine with her two
children. She was prominent figure upon
her visits to the large stores. Mrs. Phillips
| Is known to b. OF generous disposition,
and it is thought that her tendency to give
beautiful presents to friends and relatives
may explain the disappearance of u large
! amount of plumber. Police Inspector Joe
Knox Of Boston says Mrs. Phillips is an old
offender and has been arrested in Boston
with another woman. By strong pleas oil
prominent men she was placed on prOba-
tion.