Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-18
LARGE THEfTS CONFESSED.


Additional Light Thrown on the Con-
spiracy TO Rob Hopes s. Townsend.
Philadelphia Record. Sept. iSth.
In the confession OF Anthony Gansz OF No.
1504 North Warnock street, secured yesterday
by John II. Fow, it was declared that tools
and materials worth at least $4,000 were
stolen from the Hoopes Il Townsend Co. dur
ing the last IL months ana the books OF the
corporation show frauds approximatIng
SAC, 600 more. Gansz was arrested at his desk
by Superintendent Miller Of the Miller ~
Sharkey Agency. ana he at once asked to re
taken to the office of Attorney tow, where
he proposed making a clean breast OF the
matter, under oath, which he did.
James q. Maxwell, one of the accused con-
spirators, made supplemental confession to
Attorney tow, in the course of which he
stated that the bank account of the con-
spirators was kept in the name of Lida
Doak, who posed as clerk for the Keystone
Supply Co. and private secretary 10 Gabriel
L. Corwin, the acknowledged head of the
crowd. He also named New Jersey lawyer
as the elusive w. W. Smith, who. with Miss
Doak, personally flea orders for goods with
the Hoopes y. Townsend Co. as part OF
Corwin's weH-planned scheme. Warrants
have been issued by Magistrate Cunningham
for the arrest of both the lawyer ana Mis-
Doak upon the advice of Mr.. Fow and on
the oath of Clement B. Hoores.
Thomas Schilling, a boss in the riyet de-
partment, was taken TO Mr.. Fow's office by
Detective Miller, and there confronted by
Gansz and Maxwell. He admitted having
made tools for Corwin, and frankly stated
all that he knew concerning the work of the
conspirators that in any way involved his
department. He satisfied Mr.. Hoopes that
he had acted in good faith, believing that
Corwin had full authority to order tools
made and goods delivered. 1t is believed
that Schilling was an innocent tool of Cor
win. and for that reason he was not forced
to enter bail for his appearance at the hear
ing next Wednesday, when be will be called
as witness.
At the time of his arrest Corwin intrusted
Maxwell with commission to secure bank
book issued to Lida Doak by local institu-
tion and some Photographic films which,
with the bank book, were in a safe in the
office of the Hopes Il Townsend Co, to one
compartment of which no person had access
except Corwin. Maxwell surrendered the
key to this safe drawer yesterday, and the
bank book will be used as evidence against
Miss Doak. The films will be developed
with view to establishing close relations
with Corwin.
In his confession Gansz described in de-
tail the exact methods of the coterie con-
trolled by Corwin in the Hoopes Il Townsend
establishment, and showed how each move
by the men on the outside dovetaiied into
the work done by those on the inside; how
the accounts we're manipulated and how the
credit system of the company was abused by
Corwin and his confederaies.
Gansz asserted that Gorwin paid the rent
of his house and gayo him Sasu in install
ments as the price OF silence und that he had
seen Corwin share his plumber with Max
well. He confirmed all that Maxwell has
said as to the connection of Miss Doak with
the plot and named her as one Of the active
principals in the conspiracy. he also swore
that he booked orders for the Keystone Sup
ulv Co given him hv Lawrence and Miss
Doak. His confession covers technical
description of the methods of bookkeeping
used to cover up the stealings, which, he
said. amounted to.from 10 to 70 kegs week
for over Is months. These kegs would
average 500 each in value.