Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-11
DETECTIVE EXPOSES CONSPIRACY.
Robbery That May Cost the Hopes &
Townsend ca. $4,000.

Robbery That May Cost the Hoopes &
Townsend Co. $4,000.
Philadeli ha Record yesterday.
An extensive scheme to rob tho Hopes h
Townsend Co., manufacturers Of bolts md
nuts at Broad and Buttonwood streets, has
been exposed by the arrest OF three men,
who were last night locked mp at three
different police stntions. Halt dozen more
arrests may be mace today. and it il hoped
that the entiIe gang will ne In custody and
the manifestations of conspiracy that has
cost the company perhaps 5000 will be
laid bare.
For months the ofiicers OF the concern
have known that they wero being systematic
cally robbed. but so cleverly was the work
done that no trace OF the thieves could be
found. Finally private detective agency
was employed, several operatives we're put
to work ana after some exceedingly clever
planning warrants were sworn out before
Magistrate Cunningham. Last night the
detectives had everything in readiness and
the three men we're taken into custody.
The first arrest was that OF Postmaster
Corwin OF Audubon, y. j., who Tor soma
time had been employed as shipping clerk
at the Hoopes q Townsend plant. John j.
Morrow and John I. Lawrence wers also
taken and locked up, one at tho City Hall
another at Fiitaanth and Vine streets, and
Corwin at Fourth and Race streets.
The ramiications of the game are more
extensive than any runout in recent years.
The men implicated ran two shops tor work
ing up the stolen material, several ware
houses, a supply company tor disposln1 OF
the goods ana shipping agency ut BROOK
Ign, N. Y. tine of the shops. the detectives
say, was at No. 1910 SAMSON street, under
the name of WV. smith q Co. and another
at No. 1884 Ridge avenue. Both are well
equipped with machinery.
Part of tho stuff is alleged to have been
sold through the Crescent Supply Co., No.
1CU3 SAMSON street. One of the warehouses
ID at second and Florist streets, and much OF
the stuff was shipped to Palmer Dock,
Brooklyn.
i About a month ago Corvin resigned his
position with tho Hopes Il Townsend Co,
giving the usual two weeks notice. At the
end of that tina he asked leave TO withdraw
his resignation, but was refused. as he was
already under suspicion. Detectives OF the
Miller u Sharkey Agency had been hot on
tins trail of the thieves, and Corwin was be-
liAyed TO be the chief manager of the con-
spiraey. An operative of the Miller 4
Sharkey Agency mad secured employment as
helper on one of the wagons OF the Harvey
ExpreHs concern of Seventh street above
Market. through which some OF the Htolon
goods had been iunucently moved. He was
sent to Hopes Il Iownsend's Office and told
to nsk Corwin for goods for the Keystone
Supply Co. Corwin, he declared, would
order men to load his wagon with stuff,
most of which was shipped TO Brooklyn.
Some, however, went 10 the two shors
where Lawrence and Morrow were in charge
of the machinery.
/. Morrow last evening walked into the arms
of Detective Miller at Ninth and Walnut
streets, and is declared to have said that he
would expose the whole game, into which he
had been led by others. Lawrence was also
taken later, and Corwin, who had beer
closely watched for some time, was locked
up during tho evening.
The conspirators are known to have
realized that they were being watched, ano
had gone so far as to employ another de-
tective agency to keep track of the Miller
! and Sharkey operators engaged on the case
| All tho parties interested were reticent abou
| the affair last night. declaring that the wholt
story would come out at the hearing, which
| will be held today, provided all the mer
wanted shall have been taken into custody
An express company with headquarters OF
| SAMSON street is also said to be implicated
| in some way.
The Hopes q Townsend Co. formerly haC
| a plant in Wilmington.