Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
CHARGED With THEFT
Startling Arrest Of a Well-Known War De.
partment Clerk.
Julius NJ. Hurst COnfcsses to Taking
Valuable Stamps-Nas an Emcient
and Trusted EmplOye.

Not little surprise was occasioned a,
the War Department today when Julius N.
Hurst. a well-known clerk in the DEPART
ment, was placed under arrest by Detec-
tives Helan and Rhodes and taken to police
headquarters. where charge of grand
larceny was preferred against him. Mr.
Hurst has been employed at the War De-
partment for some time past and has borne
an excellent reputation. He is married
man and the father Of a family. their home
being at 17l5 New Jersey avenue.
Stamps Stolen.
When Chief Clerk r. p. Than of the ad-
tutant generals Office returned from his
summer vacation several weeks ago, he
discovered that a stamp album, containing
valuable collection of postage stamps
valued at $500, was missing from one of tho
drawers of his desk in the adjutant gen.
erals office. After thorough but 1T Sue
cessful search, Mr.. Than reported his loss
to police headquarters, and Inspector Hol-
linberger assigned Detectives Hclan and
Rhodes to work up the case. In short ordel
they made up their minds that Hurst was
concerned in the disappearance Of the
stamps. Investigation brought TO light ti:al
Hurst had disposed of quantities Of the
stolen stamps to Mr.. Fred w. Bradley OF
Ills Corcoran street; II. F. Dunkhorst, 100!
9TH street. Mr.. A. c. Townsend of the
=" ooAih6loh lLodJl d1lu Ii ust UuIulUS dUU
Mr.. c. r. Rothfuchs of 359Ia Pennsylvania
avenue. Both Mi. Dunkhorst and MIR
Rothfuchs are dealers in stamps. All the
parties mentioned were aware that Mr.
Hurst held responsible position in the
War Department and was highly regarded
by a large circle of friends, SO that IL did
not occur to them for a moment that the
stamps offered for sale by him were not his
rlghtful property.
Broke Down.
When taken before Inspector Hollinberger
after his arrest, Hurst broke down COM
pletely. and made no effort to conceal his
guilt. He offered no excuse for his ac-
tons. and seemed to realize keenly his
position. He frankly disclosed all the de-
tails of the case, saying that he sold two
lots Of stamps to Mr.. Rothfuchs, receiving
$50 for one batch and SO for the other.
He realized $3.50 In all from the stamps
sold.
quantity of the stamps were recovered
at Hurst's home, while the remainder were
were snld. The complete collection is now
intact.
Hurst sent a note 20 friends, and it is
understood tnat an effort will be made TO
secure his release On bail today. He was
detained at the first precinct station, and
in all probability will be arraigned tomor-
row in the Police Court.
His Record.
Julius NJ. Hurst is a clerk Of class one
81 ,200) and for some time has been acting
as private secretary TO Adjutant General
Ruggles. He was selected for that duty
because Of dis skill as a stenographer.
He was born in Germany, and entered the
government service from New York in 1894
as a $1,000 clerk through civil service ex-
animation. He proved a good clerk and
was subsequently promoted to a sl,2UO
position in the adjutant generals office
His name was Hosch until few years
ago, when he induced the New York legis-
lature to change it to Hurst. His reasons
for desiring the change are not stated.
. The stamp album is the property of Mr.
Thien, chief clerk of the adjutant generals
office, and is of great value. When he first
missed it he supposed it had been mislaid
by some Of the laborers who had been en-
gagged in rearranging the furniture Of the
office and cleaning up the room. His sus-
picions in this direction having proved
groundless. he placed the case in the hands
of the local detectives. These officers VS.
tied several local stamp dealers and as
certained that they had purchased valuable
stamps from Hurst, who up to that time
had not even been suspected of wrong
doing.