National Republican., 1880-05-29
ExCHANGED ron RED TAPE.
Mystorious Theft of $3.50 from Assistan
Librarian Morris.

Mysterious Theft of S2,6iO from Assistant
Librarian Morris.
Somo excitement WIS created at tho treas
ury department yesterday by the thort or mys-
terious Disappearance of $500 in grcenbacks,
paid on check in the usual way to MIR.
George A. Morris, ono Of the assistant librnri-
ans of congress. A vefy unfortunate feature
about the affair Is that owing to the almost
incredible story told as to the way the theft
was committed, suspicion rests upon Mr.. Nor
ris himself The story isas follows: Mr. Morris
about 1880 o'clock yesterday ymorningpresented
a check in the cash-room for 81, 800, the amount
necessary to Jay the current months salaries
of the employees of the congressional library.
Mr.. Moflat, the paying-teller, honored it, aud
gave Mr.. Morris 81, ,6i0 in greenbRCks and the
balance in equal amounts of gold and silver.
Mr.. Morris asked for piece of paper to put
around tho groenbacks, but Mr.. Motlat
having none, he requested gentle
man-afterward ascortaincd to be Mr..
Smith, an employe of Squier's bauk-to
watch the money while he went after
II piece of paper. Mr.. Morris then went to
another attacho of the cash.room, procured
piece of paper, returned, wrapped up the money
and secured IL by placing rubber bands around
it. Leaving the cash-room with the package
of grccnbacks under his arm and tho
two bags of gold and silver in his
hands, Mr.. Morris went TO tho wagon
in which he had como from tho capitol and
handed the gold and silver to tho messenger
in the wagon, keeping the greenbaclS package IN
his own possession. Mr.. Morris then started
away, but about fifteen minutes later hurried
back to tho cash room, in great excite
ineut, stating that after getting on street
car ho opened The package to see If 1t WAS all
right, and much to his CONSERVATION found
that il contained no money, but in its place
rolls of rcdtapc. Tho package which MIR.
Morris brought back with him was an ingen-
ious imitation OF the one which he took away,
being of tho same size, shape and gon-
eral appearance, though it contained, as
lie stated, nothing but red tape. Mr.. Morris
first thought that the packages had been ex-
changed in the cash.room, but positive decla-
ration to tho contrary being made by secret
service employee who saw Mr.. Morris, wrap
up Tho money and take it away, Mr.. Morris
said the exchange might have been effected III
a restaurant whore he stopped. Mr.. Morris
account of the disappearance of tho money
| varies in no important detail from the story
given abovo. When in street'car at
tho corner of Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue his attention was
attracted for tho first time to the loose and
buggy feeling of the package and he then
made the discovery that the greenbaot pack
age had been exchanged for bogus one.
! Librarian SpolOrd was at once notified OF the
loss, and the services of tho city detectives, as
to uuravel the mystery All who We're present
when Mr., Norris drew tho moncy-and there
we're several waiting their turn-were closely
examined, but little was learned in addition
to the facts already stated.
Mr.. Morris stated to n reporter of TIE
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN last night that he be-
| lovcd the exchange was made when he
stoppod at desk in the cash-roOm 10 arrange
the coin. Ho then laid the package of green.
backs down, and he thinks that during the
short time no was occupied arranging the
gold and silver the groeubacks were taken aud
Tho bogus package substituted 1t is the theory
of Mr.. Morris aud his friends that this rob
berry was planned long ago by some person,
who knew that he was in the habit Of visiting
| tho cashrOom every month to draw the
money due to the library. For many years
| Mr. Morris has made these monthly trips, and
| always carried the notes to the capitol In Il
package similar to the ono which was stolen
yesterday The thief, by watching his move.
ments and having tho package already pre-
pared, might easily have found opportunity to
make the substitution. The published state
ments rejecting upon AIr. Morris moral char
any suspicious that might attach to him
have given much pain to his friends
who omphatically deny all that has
been said in reference to his being wild or adj
dcted to gambling. Mr.. Morris has been as
sociatcd with Mr. SpOilord for eighteen years,
and the best rcfutation that can be made OF
the Institutions against him is the mCt that
Mr. SpOhOrd not only at once drcw his per-
sonal check to make up tho loss, so that the
employees could be paid, but in addition cx.
pressed entire confidence in Mr.. Morris. The
confidence Of Mr. Morris friends IN his in
tcgrity is unshukon