The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-12
THE TREASURY ROBBERY.
THE MYSTERIOUS WAY IN wHICH
THE CASH WAS RETURNED.

IhE CdSh WAS ~ hEI OhN III.
TIE Services Performed for the Government
and tho Thief bv a Newsps per Ccrrespond-
ent-Eieven thousand Dollars Recovered.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II. - Developments
before the Grand Jury OF the District Criminal
Court to-day gave for the nrst time publicity
to the true history Of the winslow robbery Of
the Treasury cash room on the 9th OF December
last. II was shown how the money was recover
ed, and who was the mysterious messenger who
carried the package to Treasurer wyman's
house and left It in the vestibule. This return
Of the money. which was accomplished In so
mysterious a manner, Is the subject upon which
all the Treasury oficials refuse to give an opin-
ion, saying that It was returned bv person un-
known From the testimony taken by the Grand
Jury to-day, II appears that the person who car
ried the package to Mr. wyman's house was Mr..
Curtis, Washington correspondent Of the Chica-
go Inter Ocean. Ibis fact, when brought out,
involved good deal Of questioning and exami-
nation.
Mr.. Brooks, Chief Of she Secret Service, was
asked whether he thought Mr.. Curtis was an
accomplish Of Mr.. winsiow's, and IN reply he
answered that the connection OF MIR. Curtis
with the case wss fully understood by the Gov
eminent detectives while tney we're working IL
up. Mr.. Brooks promised this statement BY as
sertins that Mr.. Curtis had acted by and
under orders Of oficials Of the Treasury
Department, and that there was nothing
IN the transaction to reflect upon him In any
way. Mr.. winslow resided when he hrst came
TO this city at some boarding house With Mr..
Curtis, and friendship formed between them
when thcy resided In Chicago was continued
here. This friendship was increased by the
fact that winslow had experienced troubles In
his family and Curtis bad done him frequent
fayors, and had such intimate relations with
him that he refused to believe that Winslow
Col. Benson. Assistant Chief OF the Secret Ser
vice, when fuSpcion was cast upon Winslow,
went to Curtis, knowing his friendship 10,
asked blm to help him. Mr.. Curtis absolutely
declined TO believe the ctaree against his
friend. lie visited the oiice of the secret Ser
wee ON Christmas Day. and was iuformed mat
some evidence had been privately secured
| against Winslow. IL then appears that MI. Cur
| tis, while he still expressed disbelief IN the
| guilt of his friend. said that he would do all
was the thief and il so to get him to restore the
| money. Curtis then ncied each q under the
direction of Brooke, Chiei OF the secret service,
aud every evening he made report Oh progress
| TO Brooks.
Last saturday Curtis went to winslow and
SAID To hun, Now. do not know whether you
have taken this money. or not. You are chag.d
with having takentt. Now. have this to say to
| you: While | do not ask you TO make any
| confession or dental, II YOU have the money you
may come to my once through private entrance
| which will leave unlocked at2 o'clock to NOR
row afternoon. IL you have package YOU may
| 60 deposit 1t III the lower right hand drawer OF
| the desk, and " when re urn there at 3o'clock
| ind the pack ee there. will guarantee to you
| 50 Tar as arm able IN u no arrest shall bc made
| until have AN interview with Mr. Brooks, Chef
Of the Secret Service. Mt. WYmnn, Mr.. Nj urril,
aud the President. aud SEQ II mercy c7nnot be
made no reply TO Curtis but his silence siguiued
bis assent to the proposition.
ala oeiSsk Curtis VISITED hs efncs and upon
"- ~ lounu a long package upon which was
msrked sll0c0. lie took tho pacsaes al op9e
and went Ia search OF re suret WI man. lie
found him at tue boarding house of Brooks.
lie told Mr., wym-n mt be Magled MIN ,9 go
home. and Curtis deposited tue pack ,ge IN tho
vesibule and went away fora moment. he I'M
mediitey returned and asked Sir. "imsh II Nc
bad recovered the money.
The OBJECT of tins peculiar mode Of returning
the mopev TO wyman. Mr.. Curtis says, l., tn.t
hts friend, aud that he had previousi, uereed
with Mr.. wyman that the money should be r.
turned to him IN this way, 50 tnt Mr.
", man shoud not know to certainly W tie
package came to MIN. SECRETARY h1trili had
also promised Curtis that WinslOw sh0uld not
be arrested until the Secret service officer had
procured enough eNldence 10 couNlct nIm WIN,
| out the testimony Of Cur,!s, as he had fenaerej
of the money. lie department had feared
tnat Mr.. winslow would burn the notes.
| and II he mad there would not nave
been any possibility OF their conyicttng
hin. Mr. cu.ts was tne only maG VINO bad
to return the money. aud the honorable cnarac-
ter Of his whole connection with the case is at
when Wnslow was arrested, $2UO Of the stol len
money was found upon his person. At this dis
coyery Mr. Curtis declined To have anything fur
thor to do win him, II was part of their agree
mcnt that all OF the money should be gwen up.
brooks. The latter ADVISED Mr. Curtls to pui ii
his connection wi.h tho case III ohciM fofm
wnich was done.
mitted IN the cash room was as follows: Tue
money Is 0rst counted by the currency teller
and put in an envelope. The package passes to
| asecOnd clerk, VINO counts II again ana pla ces
one seal on tho centre Of the envelope, and
is a national tank package OF "a miscellaneous -
one. 1t then goes To the clerk known as second
sealer. Who places a seal ON each end OF the
envelope. The next man VINO handles II
Is the addresser. who addresses 1t and
places In the sase h ina, sGss down tS the
| low. He nd made up at his house a package
IN size and appearance rembling the money ia X
ages. This he had carried In his pocket. waiting
for an opportunity To steal one OF The money
packages. He had to slip the made-up package
| cut Of his pocket, address II, and suOstitr.e II
| for the one he had received from tue ~-cond
ealer.
name Is j. ). Golden lie was agent OF Jav
Cooke Mccullough x Co. IN Europe Tor
the nesosa.lSn 9s TIE hol,heIn Pssac
swindled to an enormous extent. lie WIS
the man who transferred the railroad iron
pledged to these bondhoIdors TO RObeson, who
used It IN lis famous transactions with Jay
Cooke, McCu Tough 4 Co., in London, when be
Illegally transferred certain naval funds
Mr. Colleen, II Is said, has also served
term OF Ave years In the penitenlI,-
~ In CHRISTIAN, sweden, for forgery In
1873. When IN Europe, the swinded Dutcn bond
holders got after him, and he attempted
to escape them by suicide He jumped
through efforts OF some OF bis friends
he was sent back to this country
| During the war he was contractor, and the
| Government has tOerably good evidence that
| he swindled the Government al Port Hud
| son out Of 10000 in furnishing SUP
! | plies. HIS Sc ndinavi, ~ Bank swindle Is familiar
to all Chicago people How this talented THE
| could nave secured the support Of SeDatOr
| Wright and Allison ~ Iowa. and Messrs Palmer
and Logan Of Chicago in his application for al
| appointment III the Treasury Department, Is
| mystery.