Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-02-26
THOUSANDS STOLEN
FROM SUB TREASURY
Daring II iet Raids Sub. Treas.
ury at Chicago.
MYSTERY NOT YET uNRAvELI=0.
Sweat Box Methods Have So Far
FaiIed-Officia Believe Some E:m-
pIoyee of the Department Must, of
Necessity, Have Been Involved.

pIoyee of the Department Must, of
Necessity, Have Been Involved.
Chicago, Feb. 26.-The Tribune
says that one of the largest, if not
the largest, thefts from the United
States treasury has been unearthed
in Chicago
Somewhere between $175, GOO and
$500, 900 was taken from the local
sub treasury last week. The money
has disappeared as completely as it
had vanished from the face of the
earth. The authorities here and in
Washington have been working night
and day ON the robbery since it was
discovered
Chief Wilkie, of the United States
secret service, has been keeping in
formed by telephone and telegraph of
every development and, according to
telegraphfc advices, he will leave
Washington at once to take personal
barge of the investigation.
Secretary Shaw, of the treasury de-
partment, was told of the gigantic
theft when in Chicago last week and
was in conference with sub treasurer
William Boldenweck and secret SER
vice officials
The money was stolen either a week
ago Saturday, the next day, or last
Monday. The chances are thai it
was distracted on Monday. The
loss was discovered on Tuesday.
All the money aiken was in large
bills, bills of the denomination of
81 900, So 600 and $40, 600
Just who discovered the loss the
sub-treasury officials would not ad-
n1it. Neither would they tell from
what department the money was taxi
en-, nor how the loss was discovered.
Al first it was believed that there
must be some error in the bookkeep-
ing. 1t was thought to be impossible
that such large sum OF money could
have been distracted in face of all
the safe guards thrown around Uncle
Sans strong box.
Every man who haw anything to do
with the case was called into Treas
urer HoIdenbeck's office and put
through an exhaustive examination.
and still more rigid cross -examina-
ton. Captain Porter, of the secret
service, assisted in the inquisition.
They stood the ordeal every one of
them. They denied all knowledge
OF the theft, and protested their in
nocence. But it was perfectly OBJ
vious that some one was lying. The
chances We're 1 900 to that one or
more of the employees actually had
purloined the cash or had conntved
at the theft by some outsiders.
Day by day since then the sweating
has been kept up, Mr.. Boldenweck,
Captain Porter and his assistants have
worked from daylight until dark, and
from night until morning. All Of
Sunday the investigation proceeded in
Mr.. Boldenweck's private office.
Saturday there came a glimmer Of
light. A faint clew pointed in the
direction of certain clerk and that
followed up, directed the finger of
suspicion to another employee, a
close associate of the first man
These men were summoned into the
inquisitOn chamber separately and
subjected to a gruelling examination.
The suspicious circumstances against
them were paraded, the certainty of
detection and punishment was i'm
pressed upon them, and they were
advised to make a clean breast Of
whatever part they had played in the
conspiracy. One, thought to be the
moving spirit, came through the or
deal without turning a hair. He re-
manned calm and self-possessed. His
sang froid amazed the officers, and
they put him down as innocent or a
master hand of criminaIity.
The other, younger and rnuch
weaker, showed signs of breaking
down. Just what he admitted, the
secret service men refuse to disclose,
but it is believed to be tantamount
to a confession.
Every employee of the office Is un-
der surveillance day and night, and
should one or more of them prove to
be the thief or thieves, escape will
be impossible. All have reported
for work daily since the discovery
was made. Every man, too, Is un-
der bond, but not to any amount near
the loot taken.
The huge vault of the sub b-treasury
ic noO ctrl1ntpd of Y11ouv Iovarc 20 oh;I1
ed steel and has a number of layers
which must be passed before entrance
is secured to the apartment contain
ing the money. The theft of money
which had once got into the vault has
been regarded as an impossibility