The evening times., 1898-08-09
PLOTS TO aoB THE NAILS
An Organised Gang a the
Steamer Britannic.
CHIEF OFFICER As LEADER
Ssau9Gling q Part Of the Conspi-
raey-Rich Lacess HidAea In the
+. Bribed to Keep silence-Csnfes-
sion Of an Employe.

New York, Aug. 9.-Eacts which we're
brought to light yesterday Indicate that
there has been an organized conspiracy
on the part Of certain members Of the
ships company Of the White Star liner
Britannia. not only, to defraud the Gov
ernment by smuggling. but also to plum
der the United States mails which the
vessel carried. II not the cargo also.
The story has already been told how
John Kynaston. third officer OF the steam
ship. was arrested last week in Jersey
City while trying ID have cashed twenty
coupons on United States bonds worth
$4,000. and how. almost simultaneously.
three stewards. Henry Galway, Thomas
Tighe. and william Bernard, and Albert
Muller. truckman. were arrested in the
city, charged with attempting TO SNUG
gle several thousand dollars worth Of
rich laces. which were found secreted in
the midst OF the ships soiled linen, which
Muller was taking to a laundry. Chief
Ohicer ]. III. Jage disappeared from the
vessel about the same time. just before
the United States marshals appeared with
warrant for his arrest
Chief of Police Murphy. of Jersey City.
who still has Kynaston in custody. an
nounced late yesterday afternoon that he
had discovered the owner of the coupons.
When kynaston was arrested a large
number OF letters and memoranda were
found upon him. Among them was a
slip OF paper on which was dimly written
In lead pencil what appeared to be "A. S.
Sparks. Hudson Street. n. "
Detective Prescott found yesterday by
the directory that Frank r. Sparks. man
q ar fnr f-a.. Ar.rI
Company. was In business at No. 50 Hud-
son Street He called upon Mr. Sparks
and asked him If he had any coupons
from United States bonds sent to him
from Europe lately Mr.. Sparks said he
had, and handed the detective this let
ter:
40 Mark Lane.
London Z. c.. July q. 1898.
Mr.. F. r. Sarks. s. Hudson Street. New
York:
Dear Sir: The mail will carry You for
ty United States bond coupons of $40
each. equal to 800. The amount of which
please turn over to the Milk Company for
my account. GEORGE II. PAGE
Mr.. Sparks said that Mr.. Page was the
owner of the $40. 900 worth OF bonds from
which the twenty coupons found on
Kynaston were clipped Chief Murphy is
the coupons were stolen from the mail
on the Britannia. Is correct.
Jago. who has sailed on the Britannia
for the last year. appears to have been
the ringieader. and they insisted that he
did not take them Into his confidence.
even to the extent of telling them who
was to receive the smuggled property
when II arrived here. The goods. they
said, had been concealed in the fruit
stewards room on the snip. They Stun
bied across an open mail bag there one
day during the voyage. Galway said the
officers Involved offered the stewards $500
each not to betray the plot. but he ad-
mitted that other maiibass had been
brought to his room. rihed and returned
to the mail-room, which was under
Kynaston's charge.
The goods to be sInugsied. he said. had
been collected in the, ships bags and
brought to the fruit stewards room in
small quantities between lo and CLOCK
at night during the voyage.
None Of the Officials Concerned in the
case would talk freely about the matter
Postmaster Van Colt refused a direct
answer when questioneds and referred to
Superintendent Wheeler. of the Postoffice
Inspectors Department. who also deciin-
ed to give any Information Superinten-
dent OF Mails Maze. however. Sdiu tAat
every mail bag from the Rrtannic had
been accounted for. and pc knew of moth
ing having been taken from them. Mr.
Houghton would only say that all the
men who are believed TO have been con-
cerned in the affair arr now urder ar
rest excepting Jago. The city is being
secured for him by Government oe'ec-
tives
Kynaston was arraigned in the first
criminal court. Jersey City. yesterday
morning. The case was POSTPONED to
Wednesday morning bnt Evnaston will
not be surrendered to the United States
officers until the Jersey City authorities
are through with him.
Norman L. Rowe. whom Kynasto has
retained as counsel. said that his Client
had made no confession alleging whole
sale robbery aboard the Britannia. as has
been stated. Kynaston he declared. was
free from criminal guilt. and could not be
held by the authorities IN this country.
The coupons. he said. were not stolen on
the steamship. but were obtained in Eng
land
They were given to -Kynaston by Jago.