The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-24
STAMPS WERE HIS PIE.
PETER B. SARVIs ADOPTS A Jew
CURRENCY STANDARD.

The Jesup Postofice Robberf Cay
Time at the Govern ment's Exease
He Bought Everything Ee wanted
With stsmps-Claimed to Be a
Country Undertaken Whose-off1ns
Were Paid for With stams-The
Prisoner Committed for Trii in the
United States Court.
The case of Peter B. Sarvis, ts young
man arrested in this city last Sunny night
for robbing tbs Jesup postofice. ,ame up
Tor preliminary examination yesterday
before United States COMMISSIONS Beckett.
The testimony developed some marvellous
stories given by Sarvis in undergraduates
and paying for them in stamps, ven il it
did not directly connect him wit the rob-
berry Of the Jesup postoffice Potoffice In
spector John W. Bulla conducteCthe exam
nation.
Postmaster Stansell Of Jesup vas the first
witness. He detailed at length he kind of
property OF the postoffice that las stolen,
and gave the denomination, te number
and the value OF the stamps take. In point
OF value the stamps ranged frol 1 cent to
10 cents. He said that he had AIKEN stock
OF the stamps Dec 4, and thashe noticed
nothing wrong until five days ater, when
he saw that the lock TO the etrance had
been tempered with.
Postmaster Stansell did not dscover I'm.
I'll Dec. IA that any robbery hac been oom-
mitted. BE found it ont that lay when
postotfice inspector was in his ofice looking
over the books. He told how h had Sarvs
arrested on account OF his makiK payments
for purchases in stamps.
sARVIs IN THE UNDERTAKEN ROLE.
Okhar vifpaaaaa vro,o
corroborated the postmaster II his state
ment that Sarvis had teudered n payment
stamps for goods. From thef testimony
Sarvis represented himself in virious occu-
patlons, the most unique of witch he made
TO Mr.. William Estill.
From Mr.. Estill,s testimony was learned
that Sarvis at different TINS during the
present month made purchases from his
store, and always offered stamps In paw
ment. He generally bought 8 or So worth
at time. de explained the act of paying
IN stamps by telling Mr.. Estil that he was
engaged In the undertaking business, and
MS customers often we're out OF cash. but
had stamps. and that in payment for collins
ne had accumulated quite quantity.
Sarvis did not confne himsif to paying
Tor goods In stamps. He wanted a little
cash occasionally and he managed to turn
MS stamps into good crisp bills Mr.. j. F.
Iinsman, druggist in this city, In his
testimony said that two or three weeks ago
Sarvis came into his store aid asked for
cash Tor 70 worth of stamps. He told Tins
man that he needed the monsy to go to New
YORK TO bring bis family he'e. He also said
ehat he bad written to bis fGther for money.
but as he lived at a poitoffice where no
money order could be obtained the stamps
were sent instead -
TURNING STAMPS INTO CASH.
Mr.. Tinsman very readily csshed the
stamps. A few days later, about Dec. IS,
Sarvls again appeared at the drug store and
asked that So more Of stamps be cashed Mr.
Ilnsman expressed surprise at seeing the
man, supposing him TO have gone to New
York, but Sarvis explained it all satis4
tactorfly by saying that his family had ar
rived unexpectedly from New York. and
that he had few STAMPS on hand his father
mad sent him, which he wished to turn into
cash. MIR. Tinsman again cashed his
stamps
Sarvis also tried to dispose of s18 worth
of stamps.to Mr.. e. A Almond, ticket
agent of the Savannah, Florida aud Vest
ern and Charleston and Savannah railroads
In Savannah. Mr.. Almond had an abund-
ance OF stamps on hand al the time and
declined to purchase.
Sarvis was employed by The Union News
Company Dec. l. All employees of the com
pany have to give bond, and Sarvis ten
dereo SlO 10 stamps to Mr.. j. II. Martin,
manager at Waycross, for his bond. Saryis
stated at the time that "the old man.
meaning his father, had sent him stamps in
stead OF money.
Sarvls dealt exclusively in stamps, il APP
pears, during most Of the presentamonsh.
he went into MIR. Brad Watson's store at
Waycross and bought pair of slippers for
81 as. He paid for them In stamps.
BOUGHT JEwELRY WITH STAMPS.
After coming to Savannah Sarvis went to
the store of |. g. Schwarzbaum and bought
lady's pin for "a so. He offered stamps
In payment, but the proprietor did not want
to take them. Sarvis told the same old tale
about his father sending him the stamps
This was all the testimony adduced in the
case, further than that Sarvis had worked
for Stansell about thirty days. StauseIl
runs store in connection with the post
Office. 49,. ....--.-.
There was introduced in evidence some
envelopes and paper of the common ordi-
nary kind which, however, Mr. StanselI
positively identified as being his own and
having been in his store Dec. Is.
Sarvis was represented by Jacob Gazan,
Esq. Commissioner Beckett held him in
$500 bonds for his appearance in the United
States circuit court. Safvis had not given
bond yesterday, but he said be wepld Sc
cure 1t by to-day or tomorrow ana xet out
of jail.