The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-29
Heavy Robbery.


TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS
SHORT.
Robert A. Morris, clerk to the librarian
OF Congress, presented a check for $4,000
at the Treasury at half-past IL O'Clock this
morning. The money was to pay the cur
rent months salaries Of the employees OF the
library. The check was presented 10 Mr..
Motfat, the paying-teller in the cash-ro0m.
Mr. Mofiat honored II, giving Mr.. Morris
1880 in gold, 1880 in silver, and the balance
(s2, ,64O) in greenbacks. Dir. Morris laid the
money on the ledge in front OF Mr. Moi
fats wicket and asked for piece OF
paper with which to wrap up the green
backs. Mr.. Notfat said he had none, and
tod him 10 get il from messenger. He
left the greenbscks on the ledge and went
over to Mr.. Williams, the paying teller, and
asked for a piece OF paper. lie had re.
quested Mr.. Smith, OF Squic:-'s bank, to
watch the money for him. Mr. Williams
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 banded to the messen-
ger in it the gold and silver, and
told him to take it to the Capitol.
He himself retsined the greenback pack
age. In about fifteen minutes he came
rushing into the cash-roOm OF the Treasury
and in a very excited manner said he had
been robbed in some way OF his money.
He had with him an opened package the
same size and shape as the one be had left
the Treasury with. Instead. however. OF
its containing greenbscks it had IN it rolls
OF red tape, as that Article is put up for use.
After getting in the cars TO 20 the Capitol
he said he opened the package to see
II the money was all right, but instead
OF finding legal tenders in it he found
ONLY red tape. He ut first said that the
exchange IN packages had been made in the
casb-room. A gentleman of the Secret Ser
vice however, saw him wrap up bi, noucy
and 90 out with it. Morris, who was
greatly excited, then said that the exchange
might have been made in restaurant where
he stopped TO get drink OF water. While
drinking the water, he said. he laid the
package on the bar, and some one might
have slipped the bogus one in its place. Tie
did stop at LoseBam's restaurant, Just
above Willard's, to get whiskey smash, but
no water. That is where the exchange was
probably made, but whether with the con-
nivance Of Morris is not known. The Se-
cret.Service men and the city detectives are
working up the case, and think everything
points 10 Morris as the man who, with tbe
assistance OF a confederate, got away with
the 80. $40. Morris has been somewhat wild
OF late, it is said, and has been known TO
have done good deal OF gambling.
II was noticed that he did not come into
the house by the regular entrance, Dut Dy
the side door. While drinking at the BAR
there was man on bis right, but the pack
age was on his left. The bogus package
was wrapped up in the same kind OF paper
as the genuine, and in the same form. After
leaving the restaurant Morris got into car
going towards the Capitol.
WHAT MR.. NORRIS TOLD THE LIBRARIAN.
Librarian Spoflord gives the following
version OF the robbery as related TO him by
Mr.. Morris, the assistant librarian: Mr.
Morris went to the Treasury Department
this morning with draft for $4,000 to pay
the monthly expenses Of the library. He
presented the draft to the paying-teller in
tbe cash-room and received S2, in notes
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 green
backs at an adjoining desk. After seeing
that the amount was right he procured
a piece OF yellow paper, such as IS used at
the casll-room to cover money, and placed
it about his package, slipping rubber
band over the paper TO keep the notes IN
place. He laid this package 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 ut the
corner OF Fourteenth street his attention
wss attracted for the first time to the loose
and baggy feeling OF the package. lie
slipped off the band, and found instead
of bis bundle Of notes dry-goods package
of common red tape, bound and folded Just
as the bundle OF notes had been. lie at
once saw that some one hsd substituted the
worthless package for the bundle OF notes.
Mr.. Morris returned to the department as
speedily as possible and notified the Trea-
s,rer of his loss. Chief Brook, OF the Trea-
snry detectives, and Detective McDeytt
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.. Spoiiord was
summoned from the Capitol and notified OF
the loss Washington Star OF last evening.