The Washington times., 1901-10-10
STOLEN STAMPS DISCOVERED.
other Robberies Suspected Besides
Thefts From Southern RaiIroad.

In solving the mystery of the disappear
ance of quantities of postage stamps from
the safe in the general offices of the
Southern Railroad, Thirteenth Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue. Detectives Harti-
gan and Boyd have stumbled urOn sos-
picious conditions which they believe ray
prove to be several other robberies- John
Turner. a colored porter in the employ
of the company for several years, was ar
rested early in the morning. Fortified
with a confession from BIN, the officers
later placed under arrest Baptiste Costa.
an Italian who keeps a fruit stand at 6l5
Fifteenth Street northwest.
In addition to the stamps that they were
looking for the officers found under
Costa's bed. at 915 d Street northwest,
quantities of stamps of other denomina
tions. including a number Of 4O-cent inter-
nal revenue stamps. There was also stamps
of 10. 5 and 3-cent denominations, while
only 2-cent stamps are alleged to have
been taken from the railroad company.
Costa admits having been dealing in
stamps for some months. and the officers
believe that his sources of supply deserve
investigation The Treasury Department
officials are engaged on the case, their
activity being occasioned by the discov-
cry of the internal revenue stamps. Costa
is charged with receiving stolen property,
while several charges Of petty larceny
stand against Turner.
For some months the officers in the
auditors office of the railroad company
have been missing stamps in small guam
titles. but it was not until Tuesday that
the peculations assumed large proportion.
The matter was then reported to the po-
lice. Previous TO that time the railroad
detectives had been engaged upon the
case, but without result.
A thousand stamps were missed Tues
day, however and the ala OF thg locai
detectives was sought. Captain Board
man assigned Detectives HarugaH and
Boyd TO the case, and after an inyesu-
cation suspicion fen upon Turner. When
he arrived at the office yesterday one oi
the detectives was at his heels When ne
left the building shortly afterward ne
was followed by the officer to Costa
place. When he left the fruit store ne
! was requested to accompany the officers
At Police Headquarters he broke down
Z admitting that he had been taxing the
stamps for over year. He claims that
at first he took only few stamps, eX-
changing them for pies and pastries
The thousand stamps taken Tuesday he
states that he sold to Costa for =, Whle
he received Sc for six hundred two-cent
stamps that he appropriated yesterday.
When Costa was brought in ne at hrst
deried having received any stamps from
Turner. except two hundred, which ne
acknowledged having bought that morn
ing. These were in his possession and
were taken in charge by the detectives.
Later Costa admitted having received the
six hundred. but said that he had sold
! four hundred of them to a customer.
| Nothing was found Of the thousand
which Turner sold Tuesday, and Costa
denies having received them.
| When the premises Of the Italian were
| searched a vast number Of stamps were
/ found and win be held as evidence Both
merr are married. Costa is fOrty-eight
wears old while Turner is but twenty
| TWO, The latter lives at Ills Nineteenth
| Street northwest. The detectives are
NAV not be taken 10 court for several
DAYS.