The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-04
STOLE UNCLE SANS STAMPS.
CLERK IN THE GENERAL LAND
OFFICE ARRESTED.

The stolen Stamps known as Period
icaI stamps and Range in Value
From One Cent TO SGO-The Face
Value of the Set $2O4.57 and the
Market Price Among PhiIateIists
Twice Their Face Value.
New York, Feb. 3.-Hamilton f. Col
man, a clerk in the general land office at
Washington, was arrested by Postoflice In
spectors Norris and Jacobs, to-day, on
charge of having stolen large quantities
of postage stamps.
Colman was arrested on a telegram from
Washington, over 5000 worth of stamps
were found on his person. These stamps
are known as periodical stamps. They
ranged in value from one cent TO sixty dol
lars. When a publishing house presents
matter to be mailed the postmaster gen.
eral gives it a receipt for the amount of
postage, cancels stamps of this kind to
the face value of the postage receipt, and
returns the cancelled stamps to the de-
partment at Washington. The collectors
of postage stamps are eager for the
stamps, and always have been, and SO
the stamps have been stolen and sold TO
them. The face value of the sets is
been almost twice that much, so that the
thieves that have been stealing them have
been making small fortunes. 1t is against
one of the statutes of the United States to
have these stamps in ones possession, the
supposition being naturally that as they
are never for circulation, and not intended
to leave the hands of the authorities, the
persons who have them must necessarily
have stolen them.
Colman was taken before Commissioner
Shields. Postoffice Inspector Morris made
an affidavit that Colman had received
these stamps from one Randolph J. AL
brecht, and that he had them in his pos
session In violation of the United states
laws. The commissioner set his eXamina-
ton for next Wednesday, and fixed his
bail, at 5000 He sent several messengers
out looking for bondsmen.
Colman said he was innocent, the stamps
We're his property and that he could prove
his innocence.
Colman has friends i'm this city From
what they say, it appears that the stamps
found upon Colman were sold to Rudolph
j. Albrecht dealer in stamps, of 80 Mas
sau street, about three weeks ago by =.
c. Townsend, a phiatelist, having an Of
flee in the Loan and Trust building, Wash
ingtOn. When MIR. Albrecnt sought to
dispose of the stamps, inquiry as to how
he came by them was instituted 10y the
philatelic papers. Where did these stamps
come from? these papers asked. 1T is
against the law Tor AlDfecht 10 nave
Them
Then Mr. Albrecht took counsel with
himself and friends and wrote to Town
send about the matter. The result was
that Colman came to this city to take up
the stamps sent, which he did, and was ar
rested a few moments after he had re-
ceNed them from Mr.. Albrecht
THE stamps have absolutely no face
value commercially" said Mr. Albrecht
to-day, for they are not intended to leave
the custody of the postoffice people. But
they are valuable to philatelists, and ac-
cOrdng to the series bring high prices.
Two or three hundred dollars for a set
is no unusual price"
Washington, Feb 3.-At the general land
office to-day no one could account for the
stamps said to have been found in pos
session of III. +. Colman, a clerk in that
bureau. He is a 81, 200 clerk, born in New
York. and appointed from that state. He
was granted leave and left for New York
city yesterday. II was stated at his office
that Colman was a good clerk and of ex-
| cellent character. 1t was stated however
that Colman practiced deceptions to get
away from his desk and to go to New
York Yesterday morning he presented a
telegram to his chief clerk which an
nounced that his father was dying and the
chief humanely granted him leave Of alb
sence.
The postoffice department has been no.
eifed by it's officials in New York of Col
mans arrest, but no information beyond
that fact can be obtained at the depart