New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-26

cities Business was suspended ana many puphc
men had gone to their homes. Among stray matters
of news we're reports of progress made in nvesiga-
mo the loss of package of money sent from the
treasury to Chicago bank orders for meteorologi-
cal observations by naval officers, and further ex-
plantations of the discovery made in the payroll of
tbe Patent Office The President passed the day
With his family and received several callers.
MONEY FROM THE TREASURY MISSING.
loss OF PACKAGE SENT To A CHICAGO BANK
WHAT IS KNOWN OF IT-EFFoRTs TO FIND THE
GUILTY PERsoN-wHO WILL BE THE LOSER
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.i
WASHINGTON Dec. 25.-The Treasury secret SER
vice force on behalf of the Government, and Pink
srton's Agency for Adams Express Company, are
earnestly at work to discover the stolen money OF
the Illinois National Bank and to secure the thief.
No definite trace by either has been obtained. Inc
officials are very reticent to their suspicious
There are several theories as to the manner in which
the theft may have been committed. There is no
unanmity of opinion, except as to the conviction
that the National Redemption Agency Is in no way
responsible for it.
The history of the package is this: On the after
noon of Dec. 4 the National Redemption Agency, in
the usual course of business gave notice to the AS
sstant Treasurer that there should be sent to the
Illinois National Bank at Chicago on redemption ac-
count, 81 800. This is the amount of the substl-
tuted package. This notification from one bureau
to the other is given by memorandum cheek ana
is entered in a forn-bOok 1t would have been pos
sible perhaps for any clerk in the Treasurers Office
70 open that book and ascertain the character OF
the money packages that were to be dispatched the
next day, their amount, the denomination OF DllS,
and their destination. The numbers alone could
not be learned as record is kept Of the numbers
To reaun aV +
avail itself of this advantageous cew case of loss.
These packages are daily sent to National banks
by Adams Express Company. That company has its
office for the transaction of Government business IN
the basement under the cash-room in the Treasurers
office The only means of official communication is
by private elevator, the upper approaches 10
which are guarded by Treasury officials; the lower
nv express company officers. The elevator COM
nuncates only with those two rooms.
The next morning after abe notification the clerks
NJ the Treasury prepare the express receipts CORE
sponding to the entries in the book mentioned and
the vault clerk makes up the money packages In en-
yelopes These envelopes, with their respective
amounts, subsequently pass through three handS
and receive separate seals in wax. The first seaer
ver6es the count of the vault clerk, seals the pack
age in the middle, and addresses it on the memoran-
dunn tag The two other sealers do not see the con-
tents of the envelope The envelope is then handed
10 the persons IN charge of the elevator, always
more than one and taken to the express office be-
low There it is recepted for by the express Off
GERS, who take charge of it.
AT this point, it is claimed, the Treasurers re-
sponSbilty ceases. Between the time that the
money is taken from the vault and the time 1T
reaches the express Office. substitution might be
possible. When the package reached the Office of
the express company it not received or recepted
for by the persons generally in charge. There are
seven express officials on duty there. That after
noon there we're only two. 1t happened that there
was funeral at the time, of the wife Of one OF the
express clerks. The others were attending. The
package was receipted for by deputy. 1t remained
in that Office from 1870 until 245 the afternoon OF
Dec 9. The fact that the Adams Company has set
Pinkertons Agency atwork shows that some sus-
pieions possibly may attach to its own employees