The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-14
JYlR zGE|: RAID
STILL ABSENT
Alleged Shortage MAY Reach the
Sum Of $4,000.
DETECTIVES ARE AFTER HIM
Vas Last Seen at til, Corner Of ssverth aud
Broad streets-lransferred His pEop-
erty to His Vile and Wanted -..x-
to Sell His Horse.

There are practically no new develop
nents in the disappearance Of Mr.. Frank
FL Fitzgerald, scion Of one of the sEest5
families in Manchester. The alleged em-
bezzlement of q large sum Of money
from tho Southern Railroad by Mr.. sFitz-
gerald came as a great shock to that
city and to his family. He had the most
implicit confidence of the citizens, and
sooner would they ha:ye suspected most
any one else than the genial, good ma
tured man. who made friends wherever
1 he went.
I His record hcretnfore has been above
reproach. He was Employed as stamp
clerk of the Southern Railroad. and had
the buying of many thousands Of dollars
worth Of stamps monthly. x =.
He left his. office Friday morning and
was at the Merchants and Mechanics
Bank, Manchester, at; 1 O'clock, and
wanted to sell a. horse to Mr. Duval at
a. very low figure. It was not generally
known that Mr.. Fitzgerald owned q horse,
but it was stated last night that he did
own a horse and trap, which, were kept
at a private stable in Manchester !,
Leaving the bank Mr.. Fitzgerald went
to the clerks Office OF the Hugtings Court
and fled a deed conveying his real and per-
sonai property to his wife This en-
DIaCeu MS npllic VII 1A0ii ~ 49, - oNe>
Sixth and Seventh. His whereabouts
from that time until II o'clock that night
are unknown.
WHERE LAST SEEN.
At that hour he was seen at the corner
of Seventll and Broad Streets, this city,
by a friend. He was leaning against a
telegraph pole and seemed to be IN deep
thought. To an acquaintance who greeted
him cordially he. hardly spoke. He did
not take the last car to Manchester. Since
then he has not been seen. but the.Rich-
mond detectives are working on a theory
that may lead to his arrest At. any Tune:
Mr. Fitzgerald had the handing OF
large quantities Of stamps and stationery
for the entire Southern Railway system,
and it was through alleged manipulation
Of these accounts that, it is claimed he
was enabled to misappropriate q sum that
it is believed will reach at least 5000. The
warrant that was sworn out by Mr.. AM
drew Knowles. chief of: the stationery
tenartment. placed the amount Of the
alleged embezzlement at S1,S6o.
Mr. Knowles, who is directly interest
ed. as the alleged theft was committed
in his office. would not talk about the
matter when seen by a reporter. but
said that it was not a matter that con-
Germs the public,
The detectives do not talk, but it is
known that they are exerting themselves
in their efforts to locate Mr.. Fitzgerald.
Other police departments have been npti-
fed and the drag net has been spread.
BROTHERS BELIEF.
Mr.. A. II. Fitzgerald. the brother OF
the accused. was seen yesterday, and
while he seeernd much affected and re-
luctant to talk for publication. said, that
from what he had learned the report
which had appeared was IN many respects
inaccurate. On learning of the report, he
stated that he had. In the natural desire
to learn how mucf? of truth there was
in it, gone at once to Mr.. Knowles, his
brothers. superior. That gentleman had
received him in the kndliest manner,
and talked with him with apparent free
dom. "From that conversation" said Mr.
Fitzgerald, while satisfied that errors or.
inaccuracies have been discovered in my
brothers accounts. I do not believe that
anything actually criminal has been done.
My brother handled the stamp account
for the whole vast system of roads, in
volving hundreds of thousands each
month, and it should not seem surprising
that occasional errors or inaccuracies
would creep into his accounts.
II can state positively that many of
these. as thus far discovered. are errors
against himself. that is. errors, which,
NNen COFFecLeQ. entiliS MIN 10 1uCtnEr
credit. EXPERTS he continued ''are now
at work upon the accounts, and any short
ege should their examina tion finally
disclose one. will be promptly met by my
brother: and in the meantime. I trust
that public opinion will be withheld.
81 know said he that the natural
tendency is to associate his absence with
the reported shortage in his accounts
but this is not the first time that my
brother has gone off on n trim for a, few
days without leaving word of his inten-
ton or his whereabouts. and am sure
in this case he continued. that as soon
AS he learns of the charge against him
he will return TO explain it,
It was stated Yesterday evening
that a person with whom Mr.. Fitzgerald
has held close relationship. had "a. short
while ago disposed of a. quantity of
hostage stamns. The detectives. ave work
ing on this rumor and should it be
proven true another warrant may be
sworn out making g. charge against the