A DARING CONSPIRACY.

Evening Star, Issue 2981, 7 September 1872, Page 2

A DARING CONSPIRACY.

A novel and ingenious crime has just been brought to light in.New York. According to the report in the New York Times , the house of Phelps, Dodge, and Co., does the largest business in iron, lead, and other metals of any firm in the United States. It has correspondents in all parts of the world, hut its chief business would seem to be with England, France, Rus-ia, and China, with which countries it is in constant communication by telegraph. Some weeks ago the firm were astounded at finding their plans of purchase and sale forestalled by other firms who had. somehow or other, got a knowledge of their intentions, and their astonishment and alarm were increased by discovering that their mod: secret affairs were the common talk of the market, even their private correspondence and telegraphic advices of the prices of minerals, and the prospects of foreign markets being known. The firm at once consulted their lawyer, and the services of the astutest detectives in New York were put in requisition ; but at first without aval 1 * The detectives followed Messrs Phelps and Dodge’s confidential clerks day and night like their shadows, only, however, to be mystified more and more. At length it was resolved to try a new method. A close watek was placed upon tbe prenrises of the firm, and at once the mystery was cleared up. After the premises had been closed, and just as night was setting in, a Mr Nelson, a New York broker, was seen to come to the door and knock three times upon it. At this signal Peterson, the janitor, opened to him, and Nelson entered and remained inside for two or three hours. It was ascertained that these visits were repeated every night, and that Peterson, moreover, called upon Nelson every morning. After keeping watch for several days, and making sure of these facts, the detectives arrested Nelson one night as he left the premises In his possession were found copies of the private letters and telegrams received by Messrs Phelps and Dodge that day. together with a false key that opened the safe in which the originals were kept. A nother false key for the desk of the confidential clerk was also found upon him, some burglar’s tools, a silk umbrella belongi K to Mr Dodge, and a quantity of stationery. Peterson was next arrested ; he at onco confessed his guilt. A day or two subsequently Nelson’s father was taken into custody, and in a safe belonging to him copies of letters and telegrams were found that establish his

complicity. The boldness and originality of their operations are not more remarkable than the extensive scale on which they were carried on. A single instance will give some idea of this. Mr Phelps was in tr. aty for a large quantity of quicksilver with a house in St, Petersburg, and, as the value was very great, he resolved to go to Russia in person to inspect the metal. He kept secret his real destination, giving out that he was going to New Orleans to open a branch house ; but as he was going on board the steamer a telegram was put into his hand announcing that he had been forestalled. The purchase had just been concluded by telegram at a. price but slightly higher than he was willing to give.