The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-25
Amount Stolen Is Placed at l73
Thousand Dollars.
WORK NIGHT AND DAY.
Secret Service Men Trying Hard
to Discover the Thief.
Two Suspects Are Put Through
a Grilling Examination.

Chicago. Feb. 25.-The Tribune says
One of the largest-if not the largest
thefts-from the United States treasury
has been unearthed in Chicago. Some
where between $4,000 and $500, 900 was
stolen from the local subtreasury last
week. The money has disappeared as
completely 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 kept informed
of every development and Secretary
Shaw was told of the gigantic theft
was stolen either a week ago Saturday,
the next day or Monday. The chances
are it was distracted on Monday. The
loss was discovered on Tuesday.
All the money taken was in large
bills, of the denomination of $1,000, 5000
and $4,000
Just who discovered the loss the SUBJ
treasury officials would not admit.
Neither would they tell from what de-
partment the money was taken nor
how the loss was discovered.
An investigation showed that the
thieves were employees Of, the subtreas-
ury and were at that moment pursuing
their daily tasks. Every man who
could have had anything to do with
the case was put through an exhaus-
tive examination and a still more rigid
cross examination. Finally suspicion
was directed towards Mr.. Boldenweck,
a certain clerk. and another employe,
a close associate of the first man.
These men were summoned into the
inquisition chamber separately and
subjected to a griiiing. examination.
The one thought to be the moving spirit
came through the ordeal without turn
ing a hair The other, younger and
much weaker. showed signs of break
ing down. Just what he admitted the
secret service men refuse to disclose,
but it is believed to be tantamount TO
a confession. Every employe of the
office is under surveillance day and
prove to be the THIEF 'or thieves escape
will be impossible.
When interviewed today in regard
to the robbery, Treasurer Bolden-
week admitted that a theft of $17S,-
900 had been perpetrated, but refused
to go into details.
''It is true that what I and other
government officials believe to be a
gigantic steal has been perpetrated in
tn sub-treasury," he said. tine
amount. I believe will be s173.00o. At
present I can not go into details as to
what work we have done in the case
or what method of procedure Chief
Wilkie, Captain Porter and their men
will pursue. We discovered the short
ge 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 a book
keeper, but 1 am inclined to believe
that a robbery has been committed.
The money was in large denominations
as far as I have learned, currency bills
Of $1,000, $1,000 and $4,000 each.'
Captain Porter was very reluctant
TO say anything in regard to the rob-
berry.
''At present I can not say anything
more of the affair than that it was re-
ported to me last Wednesday," he said.
'It would not be proper for me to go
into details of the case or of what we
are doing in the way of investigation"
Treasurer Boldenweck declared lat
ar In the day that it had been definitely
determined just where the short
age occurred but he declined
% say where 1t had been
He declared himself pos
tive. however. that the money had |
never reached the vaults. He said that
he only reason for believing the |
money had been in bills of large de- |
ton was that it would have |
been impossible for anybody to have |
aiken $4,000 from the office in small |
bills and escaped detection. but that a |
of S173. 900 in $1,000 bills |
could have been carried about the per- |
son easily without exciting suspicion.