The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-01
GIGANTIC STEAL
IN SUDTREASURY
DISCOVERED IN INSTITUTION At
cHIcAeo-oFFIclALs ARE
MYsTIFIED.
Hundred and seventy-three Thousand
Dollars as Completely as II Vanished
From Face Of the Eesrth.

CHICAGO, Feb. u.s. Subtreasurer
Boldenweck admitted today that a
theft of $4,000 had been perpetrated
at the local Subtreasury. but refused
to go into details.
ut is true that what l and other
) Government officials believe to be a
gigantic steal has peen perpetrated in
the Subtreasury," he said. The
amount / believe viii be $4,000. At
present | cannot go into details as to
what work we have done In the case,
or what method of procedure Chief
Wilkie, Capt Porter and their men
will pursue.
we discovered the shortage last
Wednesday, when the books of the
Subtreasury were balanced for the
day. There is a possibility that the
shortage is due to an error of book
keeper, but / am inclined to believe
that a robbery has been committed"
Subtreasurer Boldenweck declared
later in the day that it had been de-
finitely determined just where the
shortage occurred, but he declined to
say where it had been traced. He
declared himself positively, however.
that the money had never reached the
vaults.
The Tribune says
"One Of the largest If not the larg-
est thefts from the United States
Treasury has been unearthed in Chi
cago. Somewhere between $175,000
and 100000 was stolen from the local
Subtreasury last week.
Completely Vanishes.
THE money disappeared as com
pletely as If 1t had vanished from the
face of the earth.
"The authorities here and in Wash
ington have been working night and
day on the robbery since 1t was dis
covered. Chief Wilkie of the United
States Secret Service has been keep
ing informed by telephone and tele-
graph of every development, and ac-
cording to telegraphic advices. he will
leave Washington today to take per-
sonal charge of the investigation. Sec
rotary Shaw of the Treasury Depart
ment, was told of the gigantic theft |
when in Chicago last week, and was in !
with Subtreasurer William /
Boldenweck and secret service offici- |
ais.
The money was either stolen a |
week ago last Saturday. a day later,
Or last Monday. The chances are 1t
was distracted on Monday. The loss
was discovered on Tuesday.
"All the money taken was in large
bills, bills of the denominations of
i 900, $4,000 and $4,000.
Just who discovered the loss the
oficials would not admit
asst night. Neither would they tell
rom what department the money was
aiken, nor how the loss was discover
d.
The First View. |,
'At first 1t was believed that there +,
aust be some error in the book-keep-
1g. It was thought to be impossible |
nat such large sum of money could
ave been distracted in face Of all
ne safeguards thrown around Uncle
ANS strongbox.
Every man who could have had any
hing to do with the case was called
ito Treasurer Boldeuweck's ONCE :
nd put through an exhaustive exami-
alton and still more rigid cross-ex-
nination. Capt Porter, of the Sec 8
4 service, assisted In the inquisition.
They stood the ordeal, every one G
them. All denied any knowledge OF b
Ie theft, and protested their inno- n
nee. But 1t was perfectly obvious Il
at some one was lying. The chances Io
ere one thousand to one that one orr a
ore of the employees actually had pur- n
med the cash or had connived at the p
eft by some outsider
DAY by day since then the sweat | ii
& has been kept up. Mr.. BIoden- v
eek, Capt. Jorter and his assistants le
We worked from daylight till dark. Il
d from night until morning. An OF Il
sterday the investigation proceed n,
in Mr.. Blockenweck's private Of
Q.
Glimmer Of Light.
Saturday there came glinmer OF y
ut A faint clue pointed in the d. h,
elton OF certain clerk, and that tn
lowed up, directed the finger of is
spicion to another employee. a close =, -
soclate of the first man.
These men we're summoned into G,
g inquisition chamber separately, In
d subjected to a grueling examina- =,
IN. The suspicious circumstances Al