The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-12
The Recent Treasury Robbery.

CoNer1u Ill Lne treasury. AS SOON DIS Illc losS
was known, the officers of the Secret Service
division were notified, and they proceeded to
take measures for the recovery OF the package,
If it had been mislaid, or the detection OF the
| thief, if it had been stolen. A thorough search
through the desks and apertures about the
room was instituted by one portion of the Off
GERS, and upon the persons of all the employ
ees who had access to the money, Ly Others;
but both without results. Since then no clue
had been given the public Of suspicious, and it
was believed that the Secret Service force of
the Department was unable to furnish any
The matter was taken in hand by the detect
i've corps Of Washington city. and recent de
velopments have shown that they have not
been idle, but have succeeded in tracing the
robbery to its proper source, and arresting
three men whom it is confidently believed are
implicated in it. B. B. Halleck, a clerk in the
Treasury Department., Theodore w. Brown,
sporting man, and w. Fl. Ottman, restau-
rant keeper in Washington city, are the per-
SONS arrested. Dispatches from Washington
of date Aug 9TH, say:
The Treasury detectives having failed to I'M
ravel the mystery surrounding the recent loss
of package Of al, 500 from the cash room in
the United States Treasury Department, on
the End OF June. the police authorities of the
District were requested to take the case in
hand. 1t is believed that they now have clue,
but as the case is one which requires every
move to be made with the utmost precauton.
the Superintendent, Major Richards, Chief
Clarvoe and the detective force are keeping
what information they have to Themselves
Mr.. George 0. Miller. who had been absent
from the city several days, arrived home on
Monday last on the train with Theodore w.
Brown. a well-known sporting man. familiar
ly known as peg Leg Brown The arrest
of this Individual on Thursday. it is thought
by knowing ones, is the first open step taken
in the working of the supposed clue to the rob-
berry. We make this explanation to throw
needed light on the paragraph which follows
in relation to the arrests:
A telegram has been received here from
New York stating that Benjamin B. Halleck,
a clerk in the Treasury cash ROOM on leave of
absence, was arrested in that city to-day by
Detectives McDevitt and McElfresl, OF Wash
ington, OH the charge of being concerned in
the larceny, and they will arrive here tonight
with the prisoner. Halleck, while in New
York, visited most extensive jewelry, tailor
ing, dry goods. carriage and harness establish
ments, making inquiries as if he intended ma
king large purchases.
w
rant keeper, was arrested, charged with being
!, implicated in the larceny.
DR.. John b. Blake, the Chairman OF che
Treasury Counting Committee, latter full consid-
Grafton OF the subject, expressed his suspicion
of Halleck, and this led to activity OH the part
of the detectives.
The metropolitan police detectives, who
have been working up the case, feel confident
that they have the right parties and are sure
that portion of the money will be recovered.
The friends of Ottman who was arrested to-
night, are making efforts to have him released
on bail. but the authorities demand bonds to
the amount Of $l00,0 for his appearance.
Halleck was recently promoted to be an as
sistant shipping teller i'll the cash-room OF the
Treasury. He is a native of New York. and
has been employed in the Department about
eight years.
Brown was discharged from the Quarter
master Generals Office about year ago
(where he had been employed as clerk) on ac-
count of testimony in the trial of Slater for
the murder of Hussey derogatory to his char
acter.
Gilman is the proprietor OF a restaurant OH
Pennsylvania avenue, where Brown had rooms.
1t is expected other arrests will be made short
ly. The officers are very reticent as to their
operations, but it is believed large portion of
the money was expended by the accused par
ties. 1t was net the intention of the authori-
ties to make public anything about the matter
until all the suspected parties were arrested,
} but the habeas corpus proceedings in the case
of Brown frustrated their object and necess-
tated the other arrests earlier than at first pro-
posed. 1t was believed little delay in ma
king the arrests would insure the recovery of
} the money.
Detectives McDevitt and McElfresh arrived
Ehere tonight with b. B. Halleck, who was az
rested at the corner of Broadway and Leon
4 ard streets. New York, this morning by them.
On the road to this city he attempted to throw
away memorandum book, but the officers Sc
cured it, and upon examination it was found
to contain the figures 47,097.65, the exact
amount of money contained in the stolen pack
age. These figures had been erased with a
lead pencil, though they had been divided by
two, and the quotient rs, 5As.s2N remained un-
touched, he not having had time to efface it.
Another entry on the same page read: '.6.S70
saved to show w. H.; Aug. 5, 1902 IIalleck
gave several conflicting statements in regard
to these entries, but finally admitted to the Of
icers that he attempted to throw the book
away, as the figures in it would secure his con-
viction. The figures above mentioned lead the
officers to believe that he divided the money
equally with another person. 1t is said to-
night that one of the parties arrested has made
a full confession. While the authorities do not
deny this, they decline to admit the fact,
though they say there has been some talk, ard
the public may rest assured the right men have
been secured. None OF the money has yet
been recovered, but they have strong hope of
getting good portion of it soon. All the parties
are locked up, none of them having been able
to furnish the bail of $780, 900.
WASHINGTON, August 8.-There are few
developments concerning the heavy Treasury
| robbery. No other arrests have been made
than those already mentioned. The parties
are all yet in custody, and will appear at the
Police Court tomorrow. Halleck, who is con
| final att bo PoI:oa &c no
cipal object of police attention.
| In conversation lie has made several state
ments, which are regarded by the authorities
as conclusive evidence of the guilt of the par
ties arrested, though lie denies having any ac-
quaintance or dealings whatever with Peg Leg
Brown. Halleck's statements in substance are
| to tie effect that he did not himself commit
| the robbery, but that he became possessed of
the money Immediately afterward and took it
| to Gilman. He also says that he only received
| 1920 of the entire amount. The officers, how
ever, are satisfied that he is the party who
| committed the theft, and they also believe,
| from circumstances that have happened, that
| only about $4,000 of the amount has been ex-
| pended, and that they have a fair prospect of
| recovering the remainder of it.
| Late intelligence about the robbery of the
Treasury informs us that Halleck has made
confession, in which he admits he took the
ST., 500 package and handed it to Gilman, and
that Brown was employed by Ottman to 'sshove
them." While Ottmaa was in custody, he at