Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-28
HEAVY ROBBERY.
An Exchange Of Packages.
A CAPITOL CLERK s2,7OO SHORT.

Robert A. Morris, clerk to the librarian OF Con-
gress presented a check for 50. 300 at the Treas
ury at half-past II O'Clock this morning. The
money was to pay the current months salaries
Of the employees of the library. The check was
presented to Mr.. Morat, the paying teller in the
cash loom. Mr. Mofrat honored 1t, giving Mr..
Morris $3.50 In gold. $3.50 in silver, and the
balance, $3.50, in greenbacks MIR. Morris
laid the money on the ledge In front
OF Mr.. Moffat's wicket and asked for piece Of
paper with which to wrap up the greenbacks.
Mr.. Moffat said he had none and told him to
get it from messenger. He left the green
backs On the ledge and went over to Mr.. VIII
nams, the paying teller and asked for piece OF
paper. He had requested Mr.. Smith, of Squiers
bank, to watch the money for him. Mr.. VIII
llams gave him the paper and he came back
and wrapped up the money. putting rubber
bands around it. He then went to the
wagon in which he had come from the
Capitol and handed to the messenger in it the
gold and silver and told him to take 1t to the
Capitol. He himself retained the greenback
package. In about fifteen minutes he came
rushing into the caSh-room OF the Treasury and
in very excited manner said he had been
had with him an opened package the same
size and shape as the one he had left the
Treasury with. Instead, however, of its con-
tanning greenbacks it had in it rolls OF red tape,
as that article is put up for use. After getting
in the cars to go to the Capitol he said he opened
the package to see If his money was all right,
found only red tape. He at first said that the
exchange in packages had been made in
the cash room. gentleman OF the secret
service, however. saw him wrap. up his money
and go out with 1t. Morris, who was greatly
excited, then said that the exchange might
have been made in a restaurant, where he
stopped TO get drink of water. While drink
ing the water, he said, he laid the package on
the bar, and some one might have slipped the
At t., Losekams restaurant, n j just ia a6o2e 05Se
no water That is where the exchange was was
probably made but whether with the cOnni-
vance OF Norris is not known. The secret ser
vice men and the city detectives are working
up the case, and think everything points to
Morris as the man who, with the aSSiStanc of a
confederate, got away with the 5000. Norris
has been somewhat wild OF late. it is said. and
gambling.
1t was noticed that he did not come into the
house by the regular entrance, but by the side
dooI. While drinking at the bar there was a
man on his right. but the package was on his
lett. The bogus package was wrapped up in
the same kind OF paper as the genuine. and III
the same form. Alter leaving the restaurant
motifs got into car going towards the Capi-
WHAT MR.. MORRIS TOLD THE LIBRARIAN.
Librarian SpOfford gives the following vers on
OF the robbery as related to him by Mr. Morris,
Treasury department this morning with a draft
for s. 200 to pay the monthly expenses of the
uOIaTy. he presented the draft 10 the paying tel
lr In the cash room an received g, 100 in no. eS
and the balance in gold and silver coin. About
fifteen persons were in line when Mr.. Morris
drew the money, and he stepped aside to count
the greenbacks at an adjoining desk. After
seeing that the amount was right he procured
a. piece of yellow paper, such as is used
at the cash room to cover money. and
placed it about his, package, slipping a
rubber Iu6 r. 6and nc over over the paper to keep
upon the desk beside him while arranging his
coin, and then left the Treasury with the coin
in his hand and the package under his arm. He
entered an Avenue Car, and at the corner of 14th
street his attention was attracted for the first
time to the loose and baggy feeling of the pack
age. He slipped of the band and found instead
OF his bundle Of notes a dry goods package OF
common red tape bound and folded just as the
bundle of notes had been. He at once saw that
some one had substituted the worthless pack
age for the bundle of notes. Mr.. Morris
returned to the department as speedily
as possible and notified the Treasurer
OF his loss. Chief Brooks, of the Treasury de-
tectives, and Detective McDevitt, were at once
notified and steps were taken to examine every
one known to have been in the lobby of the cash
room at the time Mr.. Morris was there. Mr.
Spofford was summoned from the Capitol and
notified OF the loss