Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-09-26

thousand stamps mad been stolen from the De-
partment benjamin F. Wilkins and George
W. Alexander have been arrested and indicted
| for the larceny in Washington Both had beeu
| connected with the Department. wilkins had
charge OF the damaged stamps returned by
| postmasters.
l.. r.. wharton testified that he called upon
| Strauss on the 18th at his house, No. 400 Mer-
vi ne street, and showed him paper having
| the name of George W. Alexander upon it,
] After some conversation, during which Strauss
| became satisfied that Wharton was to be trust
| ed, witness told him that he had some fifteen
| or sixteen thousand stamps which he wanted
| to sell, the same that Alexander had promised
| to bring him two weeks previously. Strauss
| said that il would be better If he could get
| $4,000 or $4,000 worth Witness told him that
| he did not know whether any more could be
| had but would let him know whether he could
| get $4,000 or $4,000 worth. Strauss admitted
having got S1,sOO worth of stamps from Alex
| ander, and paid him $500, two gold watch, VAL
| ned at $50 each; also, another lot, for which he
had paid valuable gold watch.
Anumber Of letters, signed Geo. W. Alexan-
| der. found in the house of Strauss, were ident-
| flied as the writing of Alexander. They re-
| ferred to "business," but did not say anything
| in regard to the nature of it.
| VIM. ID. Marine testified that defendant often
| came to his store and purchased articles; he
| lately offered stamps in trade, and said that he
| got them from party in the book business In
| California; stamps amounting to Si,35s were
| taken; they were principally twenty-four or
ninety cent stamps.
| George w. Russell, ieweler, testified that in
November last 0e1o0QanL purchased SOOuS
amounting either to 800 or $780, offering in pay
| ment three-cent stamps, which he said he
| had got from a suffer- the stamps were taken
| at the face value; on December 9, 1863, defend
ant bought two diamond pins and a ring, but
didn't pay for them for some time; on January
%, 1864, he paid the bill $50 in stamps, as agreed
upon; he asked that larger stamps might be
taken, as he had q lot of them; on March LIST
paid another bill OF sos in stamps.
Detective McDevitt, of Washington, testified
that he went to Strauss house with Detectives
frol1o oy,d or1i go Efx, md r
Callahan take from Strauss pocket slip OF
! paper with Wharton's name upon it, and also
ninety cent stamps; he also broke the picture
OF Alexander from an album, by permission OF
Mrs. Strauss
We learn that Detectives McDevitt and
Clarvoe, who have so successfully managed
ing some 800 worth Of the stolen stamps. 1t
| is believed that the robberies have been going
on for some two years, and will amount to
$4,000 at least.
1t seems that in the returned packages Of
| stamps supposed to be spoiled it not unfre-
| quently happens that only the upper layers are
ones are perfect. This fact attracting the at
tention Of the guilty parties, 1t is believed sug
| gested to them the idea of defrauding the Gov
eminent in the way indicated.
Some eighteen months ago the fraud was
very nearly exposed by some developments
made in Philadelphia. The allegation was
office OF Philadelphia, that stamps could be
purchased on the street cheaper than they
could at the post office, and the inquiry was
made why the post Office could not sell them
that time this man Strauss was pointed out as
selling stamps for less than the Government
price. Some investigation was made, and
Strauss gave an explanation deemed satsfac-
tory, at any rate no further action was taken
in the matter.
CuriousIy enough the philadelphia postal
authorities at that time wrote to Wilkins in
regard to the matter, mot that he was suspect
ed, however, and it seems remarkable that he
did not take warning by this indication of ex-
posure.
THE DRAFT REsUMRD-The draft in this
District was resumed this morning at the cor
ner of 18th and streets under the direction o
Capt. Putnam and Mr.. Commissioner F, w.
Blackford. The names were drawn from the
box heretofore by MI. Thomas Burns, tn
blind man.
The draft to. day was to supply the deficiency
in the eleventh sub-district, embracing that
part Of the county north of the city, and be-
tween Rock Greek and the Eastern Branch
Mr.. Blackrord announced that the original
enrolment was POI; quota, 153; credits, IS; de-
ing 100 per cent y $50. The names were drawn
in the following order in the presence of q
good number Of those liable to draft in the Dis
trict:
chas Doughty. Holland p ace Paris Eslson; Hol'
Inns Place; Lewis Rebinson. Eastern Branch Cor
s.Ms a s.ads.e Farm
Ssas Psa% VIZ shuf
TsVs Hssa rs9
Grind Grinders Perm; Richard Proctor. Camp Re-
Rsad ss%
%R Bis fns1 ne:DEfs
s:ss a.sss S.sTa kiasss
corral; Rebt Palmer, Ess : Branch corral; W
Hospital; Chas Hooks, Eastern Branch corral; ]
fds Den Eastern
son t Benn,ns syn Siids: kpad Msjss Mones sss.
Ss sSa As flsSrrsass jeSa
msnEE sia fsf
%ossn fssa sSs Hos JAS Bow Sspost
Muse Camp Rslief; " Smith: coreoIan's Farm;
SoTn, 5ohn Gomez soiais1s' Home; Sam Gee,
Hutmslle.'s Place; VIM Londin. Eastern Branch
f fss5srh s,s1s 5nse s.ts SsF:s
cor1a sesr: Hems
shay Mb Br sPa
e efr SSe S Hems y
3 A Kemp, Campbell Hospital Albert Johnson,
gass Moane JOS
Harris Eastern Branch Corral Chris so Mayer,
eastern BRANCH OOrT&i, OdIupUeus hOh-
pital; David Myers. Eastern, Branch Corral; Robt
Howard. Eastern Branch Carol; Thos Butler.
Farm; D. Meheling, Seventh street Road;
Vogel, HARDWOOD hospital; G II Green, Crystal
SPRING JOS Fox, Soldiers Home burial ground;
Richard Johnson, Eastern Branch corral Michael
Timlin, Corcoran's farm Henry job nstons; East.
corral VIM Bgekner s%i.hs farm; yoh ha G R fofd
farm; Geo Gates, Lyon g mill; Maurice Sullivan.
Soldiers Home; John Whitfield. Kendall Green;
Eastern Branch corral; Peter Gardner, Soldiers
Home John Medley. Eastern Branch corral; Mel
Soldiers Home Allen shirger, 18th st. College;
John Major ssrst }Shn Melon Pon
Saratoga ThSm.s DayI.na Ef shn. Branch encl!
John Warner Eastern Branch Coral; Peter Don
Ohio. Eastern Branch Coral Llo,d Minsdel,
Kenuey, Kendall Green David Brown, Eastern
Branch Coral; Matthew Roddics, Reeds Farm;
Eastern Branch Coral; Lewis Brewer. Smiths
Farm; John Chase. Eastern Branch Coral; Albert
Rufl Eas Gen at 4gt