The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05
MURDERED
FOR STAMPS.
Strange Crimes Committed
for PhiIateIie Gems
Mysterious Ending Of
an Aged French
Collector
SUICIDE HND ROBBERY
A San Franciscan Who Took
Carbolic Acid after a
Vain Search for
Rarities

bnllR IndI
object draws to it dangers that tend in
measure at least to make its enjoyment
less of unalloyed pleasure.
This law has had remarkable exempli-
tcation in the matter of philately, or
stamp-collecting. While it was a mere
schoolboy's pastime it attracted the at
tention of none but those who found inno-
cent pleasure in the accumulation of Ia
bells used to prepay postage, but since it
has become the diversion of professional
and business men and persons of affairs
these little bits of paper have taken on
value that has tempted to crime and
tragedy.
To fully appreciate the incentive that
sometimes exists to drive to robbery, in
sanity, murder, and even suicide, it must
be known that certain stamps are of such
great rarity that they command what to
the uninitiate seem fabulous prices, and
some are without price, as their owners are
men of great wealth who could not be in
duced to part with their philatelic gems
under any money temptation. On the
other hand there are enth usiastic collectors
who do not hesitate to sacrifice their own
personal comforts to the procuration of
some much coveted rarity, and others
again who, lacking proper moral poise,
would not be deferred by crime to obtain
the object of their almost insane desire.
In some cases disappointed philatelic
hopes have led to insanity, and in one in
stance in this City has led to suicide.
During the past month philatellsts all
over the world have been stirred up over
the murder committed in Paris, which
had the possession of valuable collection
of stamps for its object. More or less
mystery surrounds the tragedy.
Julien Emile Delahaeff, Just turned %,
one of the many small Partisan dealers
who may be seen every Tuesday and SUM-
day tratficking in stamps at the open-air
bourse on the Champs Elysees, was the
victim.
Delahaeff was a consumptive and un-
able to do any manual labor. About
three years ago he entered the ranks of
the dealers in stamps and soon established
lucrative trade.
On April II young Delahaeff received a
visit from man who said he lived in the
Rue de Turenne, and between whom and
the deceased there had been some previous
transactions in stamps. From this per-
son Delahaeff bought stamp collection
for $400.
The day following letter came to the
young dealer asking him to meet the
writer who signed himself Darcis, at the
Cafe des Negociants, near the Louvre, for
the purpose of transacting stamp business.
Delahaeff became a little suspicious, but
he resolved to go 20 the rendezvous. He
took with him, however, as precaution,
a younger brother. On arriving at the
Cafe des Negociants they looked in vain
for anybody of the description given, and
returned home believing they had been
made victims of stupid practical joke.
Next morning, however, another letter
came from Darcis. In this communica-
ton the young man was asked to lunch
with his mysterious correspondent in the
Hotel de la Girond, Rue Jean Jacques
Rousseau. He was also requested to take
with him the stamp collection he had re-
Gently purchased. Delahaeff kept the ap-
pointment, saw Darcis, lunched with him,
and, according to his own account when
he returned home, agreed to sell to his
peculiar acquaintance for $500 the collec-
ton he had bought for $400. No money
was paid down nor did the collection
change hands. Delahaeff's father and his
friends cautioned him to be careful, but
he said he had every confidence in the
man.
postal card, and complying with the re-
quest 1t contained went to 81 Avenue de
Versailles. That was the last seen of him
by relatives and friends. His fathers
anxiety was somewhat relieved by the
receipt of postal card stating Emile had
gone to visit some friends at Varenne
Saint Hilaire. A few days later he re-
ceived letter from a stranger informing
him that his son was about to start for
America. having sold his stamp colIec-
tion for 1920.
This thoroughly alarmed the father,
who at once communicated with the Pre-
lecture of Police. Detectives, acting with
all the swlftness and sagacity of their pro-
totypes in French fiction, arrested Joseph
Aubert and female accomplice on a
charge of having wiIlfully murdered the
missing philatelist.
Paris was the scene of even a more
startling tragedy than this about four
years ago, and for which the melting
cause was the overwhelming desire TO
possess single philatelic gem of the first
water. 1t was enacted early in June
1892, IN the Rue de Poisson, when CASTOR
Leroux, philatelist, we'll known in the
city, was found dead in his apartments.
with great cash in his throat through
which his life had flowed away. 1t was
crime that long puzzled the authorities.
Leroux lived alone, was wealthy, had
few callers and, as far as any one knew,
interested himself in nothing except the
collecting of stamps For many years an
old woman had been accustomed to look
after his rooms every morning. On that
June morning when she reached the apart
ments she went in by rear door, as was
her habit, and began to dust. 1t was not
until she had furnished up two rooms and
reached the third that she came upon the
body of the murdered man and fled with
cry of terror.
The police were puzzled by the crime
from the start. There seemed no motive.
Although there was q large amount of
money in the rooms none seemed 10 have
been taken. In desk close beside where
the body Law there was small drawer