Continued.......
The charges against Alfred Benjamin, Julian Hippolite Sarpy, and George
Kirke effreys, preferred at the Thames Police Court on January 1st, were
fully reported in our last issue. The Prisoners again appeared before the
Magistrate on January 22nd, the case being again adjourned.
Their last appearance up to date was on January 29th, when the following
evidence was given:-
Mr Sircax, who was for many years a stamp collector, stated that during
the years 1884 and 1885, he purchased large quantities of stamps from
Benjamin. He had his collection examined, and found that a number of these
were of doubtful genuineness. He insisted on Benjamin taking the stamps
back, which he did, and repaid the witness £100.
Charles James Phillips, manager to Stanley Gibbons & Co., foreign stamp
dealers, and secretary to the Philatelic Protection Association, said he
had examined a number of stamps belonging to the prisoners. Nearly every
stamp was forged in some respect, either as to the stamp itself, the
surcharge, or the postmark.
An invoice of a perforating press, made for Benjamin, was produced, and
also one for two perforators, as well as letters, asking for the return of
money paid for forged stamps.
A letter was then produced, which was found at Cullum Street, in which the
following passage occurred :- "The Sircax affair is bad. I had to pay £6,
and cannot put down here what I had to do." In another letter a
correspondent said :- "I have a lot of new customers, including another
mug like our old friend England."
A letter was shown to the Witness which ran as follows :- "I think the New
Zealand is faced, but, if you like, I will sell it at a high price and
divide with you." He acknowledged that the letter was his, but he had no
recollection of it, and said he thought it had been altered.
The case was again adjourned until the following week.
Continued....... |
