The evening times., 1899-11-29
WASHED REVENUE STAMPS
Serious Charges Against an Agent
in New York
ID. b. Badcnu Accused of Wholesale
Fraud in Buying and Selling Gov
ernment VOuchers-Large Amount
of Spurious Articles Found in
His POssession-HeId for Trial.

NEW YORK. Nov 29.-Internal Revenue
Agent Thompson yesterday arrested d. b.
Badeau, of u Broadway, who is accused OF
having sold thousands of dollars worth of
washed revenue stamps. Particular in
terest is sttached to this arrest in view of
the fact that it is the first instance in this
country of a stamp agent being taken into
custody for the offence named. Several per-
sous have been charged with having
washed internal revenue stamps, but
the men who have made business Of
buying such stamps have up to this time
successfully evaded arrest.
Badeau has been engaged IN the business
of selling internal revenie stamps ever
since the act providing for the sale of such
stamps went into effect at the commence
ment of the late war with Spain. He fire.
Quently purchased thousands of dollars
worth of revenue stamps from the Gov
ernment, receiving commission of / per
cent as provided by law. His total pur-
chases of unwashed stamps to date amount
to about $4,000.
Mr.. Thompson ascertained from the
cashier of the internal revenue Office in this
city that Badeau's purchases Of stamps
had greatly decreased during the last few
weeks Mr.. Thompson's suspicious were at
orce aroused, and he determined to ascer-
tain if his suspicious about Badeau's hon
esty were correct. He accordingly arrang-
ed that stamps should be purchased from
Badeau by different persons. These were
afterward examined by experts, and it was
found that. while some were unwashed,
others had been washed.
The work in the majority of instances
had been cieverly done, and ii would be al
most impossible for a person other than
an expert to detect the fraud. A prepara-
ton made by a firm 10 remove ink marks
was used by those who were engaged in
the washing process, but the greatest diff
ficulty, according to the statement of Agent
Thompson yesterday, was encountered In
the replacing on the backs Of the stamps
of mucilage of the same composition as
that which is used by the Government.
Agent Thompson decided yesterday that
the proper time to arrest Badeau had ar
rived. He accordingly obtained search
warrant from United States Commissioner
Shields, and, taking with him Deputy
Agents Brooks and Taylor, went to Ba-
deau's place of business. There they found
that his office consisted simply of desk
in the rear of cigar store. Badeau was
apparently quite unconscious of the iden-
tity of the three men, and approached them
with an enquiry if they desired to purchase
revenue stamps. Agent Thompson replied
that they certainly did want stamps, but
that Badeau might not be willing to part
with them. Badeau showed surprise for
moment and was about to ask for an ex-
PLANTATION, when the Government official
disclosed his identity and that of the men
who were with him, at the same time tax
ing The search warrant from his pocket
and reading il TO the astonished Badeau.
While ono oF 10 deDuty apents watched
Badeau, Thompson and the other deputy
examined the agents desk. In a drawer
was found a large portfolio. such as is
used by stamp agents, in which was more
than 5000 worth of stamps. Unwashed
and washed stamps of different denomina-
tioDs ranging from a few cents to $50
each were discovered.
Those that were unwashed were ar
ranged according TO denominations and en-
closed in sheets of oil paper. The same
arrangement was made with regard to the
washed stamps, except that the sheets Of
oiled paper in which they were contained
were turned over in peculiar manner,
which indicated TO the agent at a glance
that the stamps inside were fraudulent.
When customer called for stamps some
were taken out of one sheet, and the re-
manning quantity from sheets containing
washed stamps.
Inside a drawer were also found stamps
amounting in value TO about $500. These
and the portfolio holding the larger amount
of stamps were placed by Agent Thompson
under his arm, and, with Badeau guarded
on either side, the party went TO the office
of United States Commissioner Shields, in
the Federal Building. There the prisoner
refused to make any statement, and. at the
request of Agent Thompson, the case was
continued until Tuesday morning. Bal
g. ,fnh nodn
able TO furnish. He was accordingly taken
to Ludlow Street jail.
Badeau is a well-dressed. goo1-looking
man, and very intelligent in appearance.
The surcst way of getting Heurieh's beer and