Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-12
JOHN BEACH IMPLICATED
Suspected Of Knowing Something About
the Stamp Robbery.
Police looking for Him-smith stiiI
Denies the Charge-Tracing
the Property.


charge of robbing the government OF 3d.
600 two-cent postage stamps, and although
he pretended that he was surprised. the
officers think he should have imagined
their action to be the natural result OF his
conduct during recent weeks. Smith, who is
thirty-two years old. formerly resided in
Elizabeth, N. j.. and was appointed to q
position in the Treasury Department about
three months ago. He was soon assigned
to work in the bureau and. among other
things. he had to help mail orders OF
stamps to postmasters In all sections OF the
country. While attending to these duties
he. it is charged distracted a package OF
10000 two-cent stamps, intended to be ship
ped to the postmaster at Iona, Michigan,
sending only half the quantity ordered.
The shortage. however, was not known at
the bureau until yesterday, when word of
the theft was received from the Iona post
master. In the meanwhile, Detective
Weldon had learned of Smiths conduct
about the sale of stamps at prices far below
their face value He had received one sheet
of the stamps showing when they were
printed. and he called at the Post Office
Department and office of the chief of the
secret service division of the Treasury De-
partment, but from the officials at these
places he could learn nothing. Smith all
this time was selling the stamps about the
city. making no effort whatever to conceal
his actions. But the detective could find
no excuse for arresting him, and so he gave
up the Investigation. The stamps he had
obtained he kept. to be used in case OF
future Developments showing from where
they had been taken, and so he was able
to produce them yesterday afternoon, when
Chief Clerk McWilliams of the secret serv-
ice called at police headquarters to make
known the theft of the Iona stamps.
Smith Arrested.
The officers held short consultation, and
concluded to arrest Smith without delay.
With this action in view they hurried over
to the bureau, only to learn that more red
tape had to be unwound
The officers had no warrant for Smiths
| arrest. nor did they need one, because of
the nature of the charge, but permission
had to be obtained from the Secretary to
enter the sacred precincts of Uncle Sans
printing establishment Then Smith was
arrested, and he lost no time i'm making a
wholesale denial of the charge. Following
his Incarceration, the officers visited the
prisoners house on Rhode Island avenue,
and there they succeeded only in surprising
his wife and mOther-in-law. No stamps
were found in the house.
The officers next turned their attention to
discovering, il possible, who, IL any one,
was connected with Smith IN his alleged
dishonest transaction. Detective Weldon
was already aware of some of his move
ments, and after the secret service man
quit his days work Detective Horne en-
| tered the case with Weldon, and they spent
most of the night searching for one of his
| alleged confederates, but without success.
Lively Trip.
Although Smith had been in office only a
short time, he had been off on a trip with a
| female named May Earl, who lives in an
! alleged house of iil-fame at No. 3i2 18th
| street With this woman Smith had visited
| Orange. n. J.. and New York city. At these
| places they stopped at frst-class hotels.
| drank wine and mad what some people call
| good time"
Even after being locked in a cell Smith
| continued to deny the charge, as well as
| statements concerning his trip, but when
| May Earl faced him and asked: DO you
| deny that you We're with me?' he responded
| Il deny nothing"
In New York and Orange, she said, they
sod stamps to pay their hotel and wine
! bills, and she says that he was arrested
in the latter city. They We're on the street
together, she says, and he snatched from
her a satchel, I'm which were the stamps.
A policeman Witnessed the performance
and he put them under arrest. Then, she
said the officers made him give her $40 to
come home. Smith tells a different story.
He says he was not arrested, but they had
some trouble in a hotel, and he gave her $40
with which to pay her way home.
escapades enjoyed while away, and tells of
exciting scenes in cabs and other vehicles.
Another man and woman were with them.
The Other Man.
The other man in the quartet, the officers
learned, was a young man named William
A. Beach, and his female companion was
girl who formerly lived in New York.
Her name is said to be Cora La Boss She
was left in New York.
A warrant for the arrest of Beach and
the searching of his room in an 18th street
boarding house was sworn out by De
tectve Weldon this morning. When he
went to the house he was surprised to find
that Beach was not there. The people at
the house were not at all surprised at the
appearance of the officer, for the matter
had been discussed before he arrived
Beach's room was searched, but no stamps
Were found.
Mr.. Hazen, chief of the secret service
and Mr.. McWilliams, chief clerk of the d.
vision, each informed a Star reporter to-
day that there were no new developments
In the matter of the theft of stamps. They
are satisfied that Smith, the laborer ar
rested for the theft, had confederates espe-
cially In the matter of diSposing of the
stolen property, but as yet they have not
beer able to capture the suspected indi-
viduais.
1t is said at the department that between
$500 and $500 worth of the stolen stamps
have been recovered, and that more Will
probably be found by further search. The
missing package contained $4,000 stamps
of the total value of $1,000. So far as the
investigation has progressed this repre-
sents the total peculation OF the operators
and the officials think that no further loss
has occurred.
MIR. McWiiiams says that Detective Wee
don of the local force rendered him valuable
assistance in working up the case and is
entitled to special credit for the prompt ar
rest of Smith. The latter was summarily
dismissed by Secretary Carlisle yesterday
afternoon.
Mr. Sullivan, acting chief Of the bureau
reported the loss of the stamps to Secretary
Carlisle yesterday morning and later in the
day Informed him of the arrest of Smith
and secured an order for his dismissal from
the service.
Tracing Stamps.
Assistant Chief Sullivan of the bureau of
engraving and printing went to the Police
Court today and swore out two warrants.
one charging Smith with the theft of 10000
postage stamps, and the other against John
Beach, charging him with receiving a por-
tion of the stolen property.
The detectives have now traced about
10000 stamps, and have recovered a number
q them ahout n0O hay haap rooo,,a,a..