Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-05
CON TIN UE A MYSTERY
As to How They Were 0btain6 end By Whom
 Stolen. g
4 C. TOWNSEND, co1 SANS PARTNER
Refuses to Talk. Saw S Assert Coleman Innocence and u zthe Stamps Are valueless and ,.ere Gotten Hou-
 estly-Colem. SAdmitted to Bail.

Washington, Feb. 4-The postohica in- spectors at Washington are still in the dark concerning the alleged robbery of periodical stamps by Hamilton F. Cole man, who was captured in New York yesterday. This is the first case of any importance that has come directly under the Washington division for long time, and 1t completely baffies the officials They cannot ferret out the source through which these stamps were ob- tained. They have been in consultation with Third Assistant Postmaster-G General Craig all morning, and also with A. c. Townsend, said to be a partner of Cole man, but will not divulge any part of their proceedings.
 Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General Maxwell said this afternoon that the postoffice officials had so far been un- able to ascertain where the, stamps had been stolen, but would work the matter out to a satisfactory conclusion. Various theories were advanced as to how they were secured, but proof could not be ob- tained. Some of the alleged stolen stamps are now under inspection at the depart- ment.
 At his place of business MT. Townsend talked very frankly about his connection with the affair, and stated that the stamps which MT. Coleman had were nos stamps at all, but proofs of newspaper or periodical stamps.
 "I am not at liberty to say all know about this matter al present." said MT. Townssnd, but I can say without any hesitation that the postoffice department has made a mistake in regard to MT. Cole man. am satisfied that he had nothing in his possession that he had not come honestly by and that he had not a perfect right to have. I cannot state now where we got those proofs, but that is what they are, and it will be found that MT. Cole man got them honestly and has right to have them It Is true that those news paper and periodical stamps are stolen by burglars, and it is also true that post masters sell them. But those found on MT. Coleman were not obtained in that way They were, as l said before, proofs, perforate and glued.'
 Agitation of the subject has developed a number of methods by which stamps can come legitimately 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 law on the statute books making it a misdemeanor for private individuals to have them in their possession
 Townsend says Coleman has been stamp collector for long time. There remains to be explained the quantity Of these stamps or proofs, as Townsend alleges them to be. in Coleman's hands, and the manner of obtaining them. Up- on these points Townsend and Coleman are silent and the postoffice people pro- fess 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 was intended to be only long enough to call on the New York correspondent of him. self and MT. Townsend and secure an unsold consignment