The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-07
FRAUDS IN REVENUE STAMPS
Colossal steal Worked Against Uncle
Sam by stamp Washers.

ny w
New York, Nov. 6.-Frank G. Thompson
chief of the internal revenue bureau of
this city, declared that at least ten per
cent of the revenue stamps used daily in
the Wall Street district, having already
been Cancelled, were fraudulent. Chief
Thompson said this when asked about the
arrest by him in Newark, on Saturday. Of
Caleb 7. Crockett and c. ]. Lee, on the
charge of restoring Cancelled revenue
stamps and selling them for use a second
time. Mr. Thompsons jurisdiction ex-
tends to northern New Jersey and he said
that for two months he had been watch
ing Crockett. 1t Is estimated by Chief
Thompson that the government is de-
fTauded of at least 5000 a day by the
use of secondhand stamps in the section
Of the city south of Fulton street. He
says that revenue stamps worth about
$4,000 are daily required in the transac-
ton of that district and that 10 per cent
of this total is represented in restored
stamps. Chief Thompson, who made the
first arrest for this crime six months ago.
said the work of restoring Cancelled reve-
Ilue Stamps was OtliG CaLIiCQ Bu 70 a
large extent, and that he was striving to
arrest the swindlers as fast as his varied
duties would permit. He said there was
no connection between the arrests in
Newark on Saturday night and that ear
~ in October OF Freeman Strait in this
city.
Crockett Chief Thompson said. was
manager Of large establishment in New
ark, and his position was important and
lucrative. He has been engaged in wash
ing stamps for a long time. I have been
watching him for two or three months.
This is the first case Of this kind we have
run down in New Jersey. 7 learned that
Crockett had engaged a room in the Pal
ace Hotel. Newark, and with several of
my men I engages the adjoining room.
Lee was there and Crockett came in about
o'clock. We let them go ahead for
little while. and then we entered. I
caught them at work with a lot Of stamps
and a bottle Of the acid used for this pur-
pose was found on the table
Chief Thompson said the stamps taken
averaged a higher denomination than any
he had previously seized
Messenger boys. Mr.. Thompson said. are
engaged 70 a large extent by the stamp
swindlers IN carrying on their work He
told Of finding ten 50 bills on a messen-
ger boy he recently called 10 his Office.
II viii venture to assert the chief said.
that can 90 through New OF Broad
street and take into custody the first
fifty messenger boys fndiscriminsteiy and
by searching these fifty boys find IT least
twenty-five with washed o. restored revs-
nue. stamps Some houses allow messen-
ser boys and clerks % seix and cancel
stamps. and. even Il the boys receive
good stamps. they often substitute wash
ei stamps and sell the good ones az =
discount. Whenever any one oGe-s
stamps for sale ar a greater discount thar
per cent f5r SOC worth. the person o.
feriug them and the stanps themselves
should b. looked upon with susr5cioa.
The greatest discount any one ran get is
/ par cent ~ sls5 worth which IS the
most TIRE government allows
Fer this crime me penalty provided f.
The federal statutes Is 1ye years In prison
ard a hne % E.19a Chief Thomos9n. %
an Indication az the extent - wEicA re
swiRsIe was being carried on. sad r. lad
s. 40 IN Cancelled stzrnvuz IN hsz safe