Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-18
LINKS IN GREAT CONSPIRACY.
The Coils Tightening Around the Gang II
the Hoopes S Townsend Robbery.
Philadelphia Record. Sent. l6lh.

The Coils Tightening Around the Gang In
the Hopes s Townsend Robbery
Philadelphia Record, Sept 5th.
An examination of the books and records
kept by Gabriel E. Corwin has developed
the fact that at least S25, 600 of the proceeds
of the Hopes Il Townsend robbery, now
estimated at 800, ,0o0, is still in his posses-
sion, and Lida Doak is credited with being
the only person besides Corwin who knows
where this money Is hidden. Mrs. Oorwin
is practically without funds. She visited her
husband in Moyamensing Prison yesterday,
and yainly urged him to tell her where or
how she could get a considerable sum for
her own use and for his defence.
He seems to have convinced her that his
relations with Miss Doak were nothing
more than those usual between employer
and employe, and with this understanding
Mrs. Corwin is doing her utmost to assist
in the preliminaries of her husbands de-
fence.
Another link of evidence was welded to
the chain tightly coilinR around Miss Doak
and Pennington t. Hildreth by the Miller
d Sharkey Detective, Agency yesterday. 1t
was positively proved that the seal of the
Crescent Supply and Manufacturing c.,
the New Jersey corporation used as a blind
for tine Corwin crowd, was kept in Miss
Doak's trunk at No. l406 Arch street. and
that on the night of September sth, when
Miss Doak fled the city on the advice Of
L
trusted messenger, who delivered the instru-
ment to him at his home in st. James
court, Camden. The incorporators of the
Crescent Supply and Manufacturing Co. are
E. S. Hall, p. Morris Hogue, Edward
Mullen and G. Hildreth, agent.
Since September 9Th, the iate on which
Corwin, Maxwell and Lawrence were ar
rested, dozens of letters have come to the
office of Charles Ebel, No. 1908 Sansom
street, Identifying j. Edward Ogden. No.
147 Cedar street, New York, the Singer Sew
ing Machine Co. shd the Rider Erickson
Engine Co. as customers of 1.-THE Crescent
Speciality Supply and Manufacturing Co., y
name also used by Corwin in the conduct
of the sales department of his business.
e. A. Stuiz of New York appears in the
written records as the purchasing agent for
Ogden. 1t was in 0gden's establishment
that agents of Hopes Il Townsend and
Treadwell 4 Co. first found positive proof
that enormous quantities of high grade
bolts, bars and nuts had been stolen from
the Hoopes x Townsend plant. This dis
covery, made during the last week of July,
hastened the investigations made by the
Miller Il Sharkey Detenctive Agency, which
resulted in the arrest of the five men now
in custody and the, subsequent exposure of
the whole plot.
new factor in the case appeared yester-
day in the person of Albert H. Hilliker of
No. 1886 Carpenter street, Camden, who was
really the man who gave the information
that led to the sensational development in
the case. II was to shadow Hilliker and
Pennington t. Hildreth that Corwin first
employed the detectives, who afterwards
shadowed the operatives from the Miller
Sharkey Agency aud finally surrendered
Corwin.
From Lawyer HiIdreth. who was a close
friend, Hilliker learned of the plot to rob
Hoopes tS Townsend. and Eildreth, who was
Corwin's confidential counsel, advised Cor
win 10 buy Hilliker of by paying him $50
a month for silence. Oorwin refused to pay
a cent for the purpose md Hilliker, who
never knew OF this deal, reported all that he
knew of the case to Clement X. Hoopes oi
the Hopes & Townsend Co., who laughed
at him. This was early in April.
few weeks later Hilliker became con.
scious that he WIS being shadowed night
and day, and finally took the matter III
with Hiideth, who informed him that Cor,
win Was probably having him ehadowed fol
his (Corwin'sl protection. This was the
first intimation fliliiker had that Gorwir
knew Of his having possession of any
knowledge Whatever concerning the great
conspiracy. He at once consulted cuunse
and on advice visited the Miller Il Sharhe,
Detective Agency and told his story tc
| Superintendent Miller. who became in
terested and made some investigation II
! Hiliker's behalf thar resulted in u detaiief
report on the case direct to Hoopes u Town
| send. This report OF Superiutendent Mile
4 reached Hopes i Townsend within fev
| hours of Mr.. Case's discovery in the store
house OF j. Edward Ogden, in New York
/ and on Angus, I'd the Miller & Sharkey inel
| were ordered to round Up the conspirators