The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

partly open, showing several pieces of gold
coin and a diamond-studded watch. This
showed the motive could not have been
robbery. Nor could the police find that
the man had single enemy.
When the fact of the murder became
known to the public one of the first per-
sons to hurry to the house was Hector
Giroux. He admitted readily enough that
he had called on the dead man the night
before and found him in perfect health.
The best detectives in Paris were put on
the case. 1t was one of these. a week after
the murder, who found a possible motive
for the murder. In looking over the index
in the album containing the collection OF
stamps all were accounted for but one.
That was a Hawaiian two-cent stamp OF
the 1852 issue, known as the missionary
stamps. AT that time this stamp was
quoted at $4,000. The detective searched
every shop in the city where such stamp
would be likely to be sold.
Finally suspicion fell on Giroux, when
it was found that he, too, was an enthu-
siastic philatelist. Through the ordinary
channels the detective secured an intro
duction to this man under the guise OF
stamp collector. For months he watched
and waited, becoming in time the close
friend ana companion of Giroux. One
night the newly made friend of Giroux
turned the conversation on the subject of
Hawaiian stamps and the missionary
stamps in particular. OF these there are
but three denominations-2 cent, cent
and 10 cent, the rarest being the cent. In
| burst of enthusiasm Giroux exhibited
one of the 2-cent denomination.
He was arrested the next day for the
Leroux murder, after the proof had Deen
obtained that there was only one speci-
men of the stamp mentioned in Paris.
| The evidence was eircumstantial, but
| Giroux was q novice in crime, and con-
fessed that he had killed his friend after
he had refused to sell him the Hawaiian
stamp, which he needed to complete the
set of the issue to which it belonged.
| Not less strange was the death of Arthur
Tilden Of this City several years ago, after
vain search for a 10-cent Baltimore
stamp, an oblong label of most homely
design, but extremely rare, issued by the
Postmaster of the Maryland town. He
swallowed quantity of carbolic acid, and
his friends felt sure that he ended his life
during period of insanity, brought on by
| Ills pnlldtellC Iuduld.
For months he had been interested in
no other topic than that of the stamp he
had set his mind and heart upon obtain
ing. Two days after he was buried his
diary was found, showing entries for each
day for month before his death, proving
beyond doubt that he had long contem
plated suicide, but had put it off from day
to day, in hopes of finding a copy of tht
rara avis. At the close of most of the en-
tries there appeared the line: ITO NOR
row I may find it"
Two months ago the rarest variety o
this particular stamp was brought to ligh
in the East and was sold TO its presen
owner for $4,000, the highest price by $3.50
ever paid for single stamp.
Another stamp which may have led t
murder, although the police are not quit,
sure of it, even though murder was done
was Brattleboro, copy of which wa
sold in New York recently for $780, Dun
can Teasdale, who was stopping at an up
town hotel when he bought the stamp at
public sale, soon LETT the city. In London
in Berlin and a half dozen of the large
European cities Teasdale complained t.
the police that he was being dogged from
city to city by a man who wanted to gaiI
possession of a stamp which he carried
The man was believed to be insane. Three
months alter he left New York Teasdale
was found murdered not far from Madrid
in Spain. His valuable stamp was founC
sewed in the lining of his vest.