The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-27
ARRESTED FOR THEFT
OF $173,OOG EXPLAINS
Fitzgerald Claims he Is limo
cent Of Stealing from the
Government.

OF stealing $17s.OOO from the United
states subtreasury In 1907. was adj
initted to bail today. Counsel for the
defendant pleaded for an Immediate
hearing, but the court postponed ex-
animation until August 81, to allow the
states attorney to collect further evil
dence.
II have not a nickel that does not
belong to me" exclaimed Fitzgerald.
He rave his attorneys an explanation
OF the money he used in speculation.
When he was discharged from the gov
ernment's employ he declared he had
S2,60D His wife possessed about $4,000
and later he Inherited between $4,000
and 5000. His egg ~speculations began
with an Investment Of only $500, he as
serted, as he had only to put up sum
cent margins to cover h probable
fluctuations In prices. This deal NOTED
him $500. He then interested several
and togther they made up a pool OF
$4,000, by the use of which they made
some profit. AS to the home purchased,
he said 1t was offered for $4,000 with
$1,000 mortgage. He and Mrs. Fitzger-
aid secured the property by paying
down $500.
Government Fails TO Act.
The evidence against Fitzgerald was
worked up BY aAprivate detective
agency and no move was made by the
government authorities IN court today.
der Assistant United States Treasurer
Boldenweck. Suspicion at the time OF
the theft. February 20, 1907, rested on
him, but so plausible was his story and
so Intense his apparent interest in dis
covering The real culprit that interest
ceased to center IN him. Much work
was done on the theory that the crime
had been perpetrated BY a colored man.
Meanwhile Fitzgerald was discharged
from tho government employ for Gull
pable negligence for allowing such q
theft to be contaminated under kis
very eyes. The money stolen a been
used and was tied in packages, some
of which had been marked for destruc-
ton at Washington, Amy OF the bills
would readily have passed anywhere
except for their large denominations.
None OF the bills was under $500. and
some were OF the $1,000 and Sc. 1000 de-
nominations, the $1,000 ones FREEDOM
mating.
Sensation In Country.
The theft created a sensation
throughout the country, and congress
at the last session was asked and re-
fused to release Assistant Treasurer
Boldenweck from liability. although 1t
was promised that ngress would
again consider h matter at its next
session.
Meanwhile Herbert T.. Young, a for
mer Chicago newspaper reporter, and
now head of the Young Secret Service
agency, became Interested in the case,
ct first without official connection. but
later as the agent OF Mr.. ~Boldenweck.
Mr.. Young's attention was redirected
to Fitzgerald. The latter, upon his dis
charge from the su~btreasury. stated
that his whole fortune consisted OF 5000
in cash and a stock certificate for 81. 200.
His wife. had a S700 interest in the
estate OF her mother, which was valued
at about $4,000 and was in litigation.
Fitzgerald, however. according to Mr.
Young, embarked in speculation on d
scale not consistent with the size of his
reputed means. There was, however,
M ostentation in Fitzgerald's life. The
lavish display which detectives in
variably look for In tracing stolen
funds was absent, Fitzgerald bought
eggs for speculation and stored them.
$1,000 in egg Deal.
In July, 1907, he inaugurated an egg
deal which ultimately, 1t is stated. in
volved an expenditure of $1,000, and the
following March a similar deal involved
him, according to Mr. Young, to the
extent of $780, 900. Incidentally the for
mer teller had become the possesor In
his wife's name OF a neat brick resi-
dence In Rogers Park, a suburb OF Chi
cago. and valued at $500. Mr., Young
declared that this purchase was made
in a roundabout way, passing through
several hands. and finally into those OF
Mrs. Fitzgerald for q consideration
OF 81.
Last July the scent is said to have
become hot when Colonel Harry G.
Gano, superintendent OF A. Booth &
Co. a business maj OF prominence and
public spirit, reported to Mr.. Bolden-
Fitzgerald was an asserting teller UNI
week, Il was said. that MI. Fitzgerald
had approached him with a proposition
to pass several 5 $1,000 bills.
After comforting with Mr.. Bolden-
-. rAAx - 4. aaA1 warntNo
lions with Fitzgerald. with the result
that by prearTangement, Detective
Young saws, several witnesses were Sc
cretly present when the former teller.
proposed to pass two $1,000 bills to Col
onel Gano.
legged to have said, "for you can get rid
OF two Just as. well as one
So far as known Fitzgerald was not
seen to pass any OF the large bills.
Arrest Is Made.
Deciding it Was best to, delay no
longer. the officers secured a warrant
from Judge Chetlain and raced to Fitz-
geraId's Rogers Park home In an auto
mobile. Fitzgerald appeared at the
door IN his tnightgown and a pair Of
trousers. Mrs. Fitzgerald stood at the
ron az the stairs with white face and
strained eyes while Detective Kinder
read the warrant. Fitzgerald listened
to ithe reading WIFI composure, Kissed
his two young children goodby aid left
MS almost hysterlcal wife to enter the
automobile with the officers. :
aTheyve caught him at last; they've,
CAUGHT him at 'lastiH Is the exclama-
fion which Detectives Kinder and
Young declare anne from the lips of
Mrs. Fitzgerald in the half hysterical
STATE into which she fell when she
comprehended the object OF the officers
visit.
Fitzgerald himself merely remarked:
II suppose you want me 70 go TO jail;
guess I'd better so along.
M Is recalled that the first intimation
that any OF the subtreasury officials
had OF a shortage was when Fitzgerald,
for seven years, walked from his cage
over to the cashier. Fl e Russell and
told him that he was short $l7s 900.
what is that? Short S173.0002 Why,
tybat is the matter with YOU ~
..Is am not foollng, Mr. Russell; / tell
90, tbat I am short $4,000"