Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-05
A STAMP MYSTERY
THAT PUZZLES POsT-OFFICE IN
sPECTORs AT WASHINGTON.
Many Conferences Statement
from Stamp DenIer-Cnme by the
Specimens observation-disclosures Fur
nfshes Cash bail.

WASHINGTON, February 1.-The post
ONCE inspectors at Washington are stu
IN the dark concerning the alleged rob
pery OF periodical stamps by Hamilton r.
Coleman, who was captured in New YORK
yesterday. This is the first case Of any
Importance that has come directly under
the Washington division for a long time.
and completely battles the officials. They
cannot ferret out the source through
which these stamps were obtained. They
have been i'm consultation with Third-As-
sistant- Postmaster-G General Craig all
morning, and also with A. G. Townsend.
alleged to be partner Of Colemans, but
Will not divulge any part of their pro-
ceedings. Fourth-Assistant-P Postmaster
General Maxwell said this afternoon that
the poft-ofiice officials had so far been
unable to ascertain where the stamps
had been stolen, but would work the mat
ter out to satisfactory conclusion. Va
rious theories were advanced as to how
they were secured, but proof could not be
obtained. Some OF the alleged stolen
stamps are now under inspection at the
department.
At his place of business Mr.. Townsend
talked very frankly about his connection
with the affair, and stated that the
stamps which Mr.. Coleman had were not
stamps at all, but proofs of newspaper
and periodical stamps.
Il am not at liberty to say all / know
about this matter at present" said Nj.
Townsend, but / can say without any
hesitation that the Post-Onice Depart
ment has made a mistake i'm regard 10
Mr. Coleman. L am satisfied that he had
nothing i'm his possession that he had not
come honestly by and that he had not
perfect right to have. l cannot state now
where we got these proofs, but that is
what they are, and IL will be found that
Mr. Coleman got them honestly and has
a right to have them. IL is true that
these newspaper and periodical stamps
are stolen by burglars, and ii is also true
that postmasters sell them. But these
found on Mr.. Coleman were not obtained
in that way. They were. as | said before.
proofs, perforated and glued"
HOW THEY CAN BE GOTTEN.
Agitation Of the subject has developed
a number Of methods by which these
stamps can come legitmately into the
hands of collectors They are found in
many stamp collections, the owners of
which learn now for the first time that
there is a law on the statute books
making it a misdemeanor for private in
dividuals to have them in their possession.
Townsend says Coleman has been
stamp collector and Spectator for long
time. There remains to be explained the
quantity Of these stamps or proofs, as
Townsend alleges them TO be, in Cole
mans hands and the manner Of obtain
ing them. Upon these points Townsend
and Coleman are SILENT and the post
office people profess to be ignorant.
There has heretofore been no cloud on
Coleman's reputation, and his family as
sert that he was called to the bedside OF
his dying father in the interior of New
York State, and his stop In New York
city was intended to be only long enough
to call on the New York correspondent OF
himself and Mr. Townsend and secure an
unsold consignment.
COLEMAN FURNISHES BAIL.
NEW YORK, February 4.-Hamilton f.
Coleman. who was arrested yesterday for
having $500 worth Of government ''pe-
Tiodical' stamps unlawfully in his pos
session. to-day furnished 5000 cash bail
for his appearance before Commissioner
Shield for preliminary examination on
Wednesday next. He departed at once TO
visit his father, who is reported TO be dy-
ing at Cooperstown. He Is a nephew OF
Commissioner-of-A griculture Coleman, OF
Missouri