Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-25

treasury officials admit the THEFT OF
$4,000.
CHICAGO, February 25-One of the larg-
est, if not the largest, thefts from the
United States treasury has been unearth-
ed in Chicago.
Somewhere between $4,000 and 500, 600
was stolen from the local subtreasury last
sweek. The money disappeared as complete
ly as if 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 informed by tele-
phone and telegraph of every development,
: and, according to telegraphic advices, he
will leave Washington today to take per-
sonal charge of the investigation.
Secretary Shaw of the Treasury Depart
ment was told of the gigantic theft when in
Chicago last week and was in conference
with Subtreasurer William Bodenweck and
secret service officials.
Saturday, the next day or last Monday.
The chances are it was distracted on Mon
day. The loss was discovered on Tues
day.
All in Large Bills.
All the money taken was in large bills.
and $4,000
Just who discovered the loss the sub
treasury officials would not admit last
night Neither would they tell from what
department the money was taken nor how
the loss was discovered.
At first it was believed that there must
be some error in the bookkeeping. 1t was
thought to be impossible that such a large
sum of money could have been distracted
In face of all the safeguards thrown
around Uncle Sans strong box.
The ledger men involved strenuously de-
MED any error and an investigation show
ed there no possible clerical mistake
TO account for the disappearance of the
cash. This brought the inevitable conclu-
sion that robbery was the only explanation
Just as certain was the deduction that the
thieves were employees of the subtreasury
and were at that moment pursuing their
daily tasks.
Had an Exhaustive Examination.
Every man who could have had anything
To do with this case was called in to Treas
urer Bodcnweck's Office and put through
an exhaustive examination and a still more
rigid ross-eXamination. Captain Porter of
the secrc: service assisted in the inuuisi-
ton. They stood the ordeal, every one of
them. All dcaied any knowledge of the
theft and protested their innocence with
unarimity and righteousness. But it was
perfectly obvious that some one was living.
The chances were LOCO TO l that one or
more Of the employees actually had pur-
Joined the cash or had connived at the theft
by some outsider.
Sweating Kept Up.
Day by day since then the sweating has
been kept up. Mr.. Bodenweck. Captain
Porter and his assistants have worked from
daylight TO darkness and from night until
morning. All of yesterday the investigation
proceeded in Mr.. Boldenweck's private Of
flee. and at II o'clock at night lights were
still burning In his office.
Saturday there a glimmer of light
a faint cIew pointed in the direction of a
certain clerk. and that. followed up, direct
ed the finger of suspicion to another en-
ploye close associate of the first man.
These men were summoned into the inqui-
sition chamber separately and subjected 10
grueling examination. The suspicious cir
cumstances against them We're paraded the
certainty OF detection and punishment was
Impressed upon them. and they were ad-
vised TO make q clean breast of whatever
part they had played in the conspiracy
May Have Confession
One thought to- be the moving spirit. came
through the ordeal without turning hair.
He remained calm and self possessed His
sang froid amazed the officers and they nut
him down innocent a master hand OF
crimnality.
The other. younger and much weaker
showed signs of breaking down. Just what
he admitted the secret service men refuse
TO disclose, but II is believed to be tanta-
Aount to a confession. Anyway. the adj