Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-15
THAT STAMP ROBBERY
The Case Taken From the District Police
Officials.
A Possibility of Some Interesting De-
veIOpments-Detecti Wee.
dOn's Statements.

Detective Weldon has been called of the
Investigation involving the lots Of the post
age stamps sustained by the government.
This action was the result Of a request
made by Chief Clerk Thomas ]. Sullivan of
the bureau of engraving and printing, who
visited the district attorneys Office, as well
as police headquarters, In company with
Chief Hazen Of the secret service. The re-
quest was made by Chief Clerk Sullivan
that the case be turned over to the secret
service officers. and Inspector Hollinberger.
of course. complied.
Detective Weldon was the first officer to
discover that the stamps were being sold
about the city at reduced figures. and II
was the result of his good work that the
parties alleged to be implicated in the rob-
berry were detected. Now that he had fin
ished most of the work he has got to give
up the investigation.
Detective Weedon had expected to impli-
cate other government employees in the al
legged theft and conspiracy, but the turning
over of the case to the secret service may
defeat this end of the case.
William B. Smith and George Longstreet,
who are under arrest, were taken into the
Police Court today and charged with the
theft of the stamps.
Mr.. Mullowney stated that he would not
be ready for trial until Friday, and the case
went over until that time. Bond was fixed
at 5000.
The officials of the bureau Of engraving
and printing express the opinion that the
losses of postage stamps by the thefts of
Smith and his confederates will not exceed
81 30 or s1,J00. Up to this time four post
masters in different parts of the country. in
addition to the one at Ionia, Mich, have
made complaints of shortage in the in
voices of stamps shipped them. but I'm each
case the loss was very small. 1t is expect
ed that by the middle of this week they
will have received reports from all post
masters whose shipments of stamps could
have been tampered with. William A.
Beach, who was arrested at Orange, N j.,
and released. Is now being looked after by
the postal inspectors at New York, and
with his capture ii is believed that all of
those who were implicated will have been
apprehended.
A Possible Clash.
The action of Chief Clerk Sullivan of the
bureau of engraving and printing In having
the case taken from the hands of the po-
lice and turned over to the secret service
is likely to cause a clash between the bu-
reau officials and tie police when the case
comes TO trial. and 1t may end in an in
YCStISation of the methods employed in
the work In the bureau. Detective Weedun
Is fully convinced that the work has been
carried on very loosely in the bureau and
that there Is ineticiency somewhere which
ought to be remedied According to Chief
Clerk Sullivan, he says 52,OOO stamps have
been taken, but he (Weedon) says he has
witnesses TO prove that more than 100000
have been offered for sale.
Then, too, he says that some of these
stamps were sold on the streets before they
were supposed to have been issued from the
bureau. and this fact was known to some
of the employees. When the cases come 20
trial he says he will ir sist on Dr. Davis the
stamp examiner, being called to tell some
thing OF the workings of the bureau, so far
as the stamps are concerned, although, he
says Chief Clerk Sullivan has said that Dr.
Davis is not to be called I'm the case
Although he has been called out Of the
case, Detective Weldon says he intends to
see that the proper witnesses are in court
no matter whom their testimony hurts
whether against the efficiency of the bureau
force or not.