The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-13
POSTAGE STAMP ROBBERY,
.oo.ooo tyD PoSsInLr $4,000
STAMPS MISSING.

-..x... or the Brresr ef Eseravisg
-. p.,,,,-r Arrested Detectives Lock-
-. Tse,r Aces-piiees-Tws er the
-. ~sts n Tr,p - New York with
-. wo-,- s.s Sell Stamps Freely.
w,suxcroN. Oct. 1.-THE stamp robbery at
A.. pureau Of Engraving and Printing, discoV-
ii yesterday. turns out TO be much larger than
a., suspected. Instead Of one package con-
,oininV 10000 o-cent stamps IL is now believed
.ha, over 200, 900 and possibly 100000 stamps
~ various denominations are missing. Post
uos,ors in all parts Of the country. II IL thought,
boye received fewer stamps than they ordered
and failed TO notice the deficiency. When their
ouar,erly reports are mndo up these shortages
ro.v lie found. II will take weeks TO d discover the
full extent Of the robbery. When IL Is known
that Yesterdays shipments Of stamps were to
1.sOO Postmasters, some idea may be had OF the
task Of ascertalning what offices have received
short packages.
The stealing has been going on for thirty days,
aud seems to have been the result OF a plot.
william Il. Smith. formerly Of Plainfeld. N. j.,
and GEORGE w. Longstreet. who were employed
In the stamp department of the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing, are under arrest. and the
detectives are looking for William A. Beach,
who was until recently employed In a hotel
billiard room In this city, and a man whose
name is believed to be Simmerlitz. Both men
left Washington on Wednesday for the pur-
pose OF selling stamps. To-day Smith made
a proposition to the police authorities to
turn states evidence and make q full confession
~ they would sign a paper guaranteeing protec-
tion 10 him. He said he would implicate Govern
ment employees much higher than himself. He
was told that such protection could not be
granted. Smith then told the authorities that
he knew where Beach was, hut would go TO jail
before he would tell his whereabouts.
Longstreet was arrested to-day on the evidence
Of May Earl and Cora La Boss, two dissolute
women. who went to New York and Orange, N.
j., a week or so ago with Smith and Beach.
These women told the detectives that on Friday
night. Sept. %. Smith and Beach, accompanied
by a third man, called at their house and want
ed them to start that night for New York. To
this they agreed. The three men asked for the
use of q room for a few minutes. They entered
it.. Smith carrying a small satchel. Soon after
ward Smith left the house with a large, white
envelope. He returned with some money and
four tickets for Baltimore. Then they left the
city, leaving the third man.
Once Inspector smith, and Postage stamp
Agent Davis went to the Bureau OF Engraving
tssy p wsr /. pS:I sixsn tbs sSe could aTG point SHmsa out s't tRs u as
known man there. In the stamp vaults Cora
Into Agent Dayis's office. As soon as he en-
Nov about those 10000 stamps. / know
absolutely nothing OF them. My books are
Hsthe officers had given no intimation of the
nature Of their visit, this was considered an EVIL
dence OF guilt. and Longstreet was arrested. On
the way 70 the police station the prisoner be.
came indignant. and declared that he would
smith, as he had made a confession duplicating |
him I.ongstreetl; This quieted the prisoner;
and an expert stamp handler and packer. He
was with the American Bank Note Company for
eight years, ranking as the company's second
sumed the stamp contracts a few months ago, |
Longstreet was brought here as an instructor OF
other men. He was regarded as absolutely
The trip Of Smith. Beach. and the two women
20 New York was q hilarious one. They spent |
f %une' During arfnsy the dSs absence sS,s s'A OF smith riEh' fr ~ma
. .sS D: sone 1911 Of the 'n Stamp. .~f from bef lis
and left them in New York city. The other
and the Earl woman attempted TO pass as man
and wife, and were elected from q hotel. Beach
and the woman eagaged In a fisticuff to the sor-
trio and took them before the Chief of Police.
where. 9 400 stamps were found IN a satchel.
aonnsed Of having stolen the stamps. but strenu-
s for%e as me c HE f thar they r msrs a Stolen mq proper TN,
and could prove II ~ having the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing elegra phed to. For some
10 let them so. and he has regretted his action
ever since.
next day smith resumed his duties as usual, and
Beach went about the city selling tho stolen
stamps. Some of the stamps were of a new
Issue not vet put in circulation.
1t Is probable that many OF the stamps dis
passed OF by smith and his cOnfederates were
Whose ,Gla =" ls .he IL srs Ssw s '5erssy m ven. or I ,hsi5 a. SseTP s
Eus Of Tuesday.