The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-26
CLEVER THIEVES
MAKE HEAVY HAUL
United States Sub Treasury
at Chicago is Looted to
Tune of $4,000.
CLERKS BEING "SWEATED"
THEY ARE PUT THROUGH A
GRUELiNG EXAMINATION, BUT
ALL ASSERT THEIR lNNO-
CENCE.

Chicago. Feb, 25.-One OF the lar
gest-if not the largest-thefts from
the United States treasury has been
unearthed in Chicago. Somewhere
between $175, 900 TO 100000. it was
learned today. completely disappeared
from the local subtreasury last week.
The authorities here and in Washing
ton have been working night and day
on the robbery since it was discover
ed.
Chief Wilkie, of the United States
secret service, has taken personal
charge of the Investigation.
Secretary Shaw, of the treasury de
partment was told of the theft when
in Chicago last week, ahd was in con-
ference with Subtreasurer William
Boldenweck and secret service Off
cials
The money was taken either week
ago Saturday, the next day or last
Monday. The chances are it was abb
stracted on Monday. The loss was
discovered on Tuesday. The stolen
money was in bills of the denomina-
ton of 1000, $4,000 and $4,000. Just
who discovered the loss the subtreas-
ury officials will not admit. Neither
VIII they tell from what department
the money was taken nor how the
loss was discovered.
Captain Porter was very reluctant
to say anything in regard to the rob-
berry. AT present / can not say any
thing more of the affair than that 1t
was reported to me last Wednesday,
he said. 1T would not be proper for
me to go into details of the case or
what we are doing in the way of in
vestigation.'
ously denied any error and an inves-
tigation showed there was no possible
clerical mistake to account for the
disappearance of the c. sh.
Every man who could have had
anything to do with the case was call
into Treasurer Boldenweck's office
and put through an exhaustive exam
ination and a still more rigid cross
examination. Captain Porter, of the
secret service, assisted in the exam
nation. All denied any knowledge
of the theft and protested their in
nocence. Day by day, however, the
sweating process has been kept up.
Saturday a faint clew pointed in the
direction of a certain clerk and, that
followed up. directed suspicion to an
other employe, close associate of
the first man.
These men were summoned into
the inquisition chamber and separate
ly subjected to a grueling examina-
ton. One passed through the ordeal
in calm and self-possessed manner,
but the other showed signs of break
ing down. Just what he admitted the
secret service men refuse to disclose.
Anyway, the admissions he made
started the investigation into renew
ed activity. Half a dozen operatives
started out and results are expected
in the next twentyfour or forty-eight
hours.
William Boldenweck was appointed
Subtreasurer on June % last. He sue
ceeded William P Williams
Sub-treasurer Boldenweck declared
that it had been definitely determined
just where the shortage occurred. but
he declined to say where it had been
traced. He declared himself positive.
however. that the money had never
reached the vaults He said that the
only reason for believing that the
stolen money had been in bills of
large denomination was that it would
have been impossible for anybody to
have taken $4,000 from the Office
in small bills and escaped detection
He declared that it would have made
too bulky package. A package of
s173,000 in 81, 900 bills could have
been carried about the person easily
without exciting suspicion.