Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-24
G. ". Fitzgerald Accused
Of Stealing $4,000.
While Asserting Teller al The
Sub-treasury in Chicago.
Attempt to Cash Big Bill Leads to
His Apprehension.

Chicago, Aug. 23.-The mystery of
the theft of $4,000 from the United
states sub-treasury year and a half
ago, one of the largest losses the gov
eminent has ever suffered in this man
ner, is believed to have been solved
by the arrest today Of George w.
Fitzgerald. Others are believed ~
have been implicated in the crime,
which for months completely baffied
government secret service men,
Fitzgerald was an asserting teller
under Assistant United States Treas
urer William BOldenwreck. Suspicion
at the time of the theft, Feb. 90. 1907.
r"etch on him, but 50 plausible was
his story and so intense his apparent
Interest in, discovering the real cul-
prit that interest ceased to center in
him. Much work was done on the
theory that the crime had been per-
petrated by colored man. Mean
while, Fitzgerald was discharged from
the government employ for culpablabe
negligence in allowing such theft to
be contaminated under his very eyes
The money stolen had been used and
was tied in packages, some having
been marked for destruction at Wash
ington. Any 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 $4,000 denominations,
the $1,000 ones predominating.
The theft created a sensation
throughout the country and Con-
gress al the last session was asked and
refused to release Assistant Treasurer
Boldenwreck from liability, although
1t was promised that Congress would
again consider the matter in it's ses-
sion. Meanwhile, Herbert F. Young.
former Chicago newspaper reporter,
and now head of the Young Secret
Service Agency, became interested in
the case, at first without official con-
nection with the case. but later as the
agent of Mr.. BoldcnWreck. Mr..
YounS's attention was re-directed to
Fitzgerald The latter upon his dis
charG" from the sub-treasury stated
that his whole fortune consisted OF
$500 in cash and a stock certificate
for $1,000
His wife had a 500 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 a
scale not consistent with the size of
his reputcd means There was, how
ever, no ostentation in Fitzgerald
life. The lavish display which detec-
tives invariably look for in tracing
stolen funds was absent. Fitzgerald
bought eggs for speculation and stor-
ed them In July, 1907. he inaugural
ad an opy deal which nIt iruafp1v il is
said. involved an expenditure of $1,000
and the following March a similar
deal was developed, according to Mr..
Young to the extent of $4,000. In
cdentally the former teller had be-
came the pOsSeSSor. in his wifes
name OF neat brick residence in
Rogers park. suburb of Chicago and
valued at $500
Last July the scent is said to have
become hot when Col. Harry c. Gano
a business man of prominence. report
ed to Mr. Boldenwrcck, it is said. that
Fitzgerald had approached him with
proposition to pass several $1,000
bills
After comforting with Mr.. Boldcn-
wreck Col Gano continued negOtia
tions with Fitzgerald with the result
nesses were secretly present when the
former teller. it is said. passed two
$1,000 bills to Col Gano. So far as
known Fitzgerald was not seen to pass
any of the large bills.
For the moment of Col GanO's first
interview with the assistant United
States treasurer it is said detectives
Swallowed Fitzgerald The trail. it is
al II h1
mot been intended to arrest Fitzgerald
at this time, as other evidence was
not only wanted against him. hut de-
veIopments were expected which would
conclusively involve others. However.
1t is stated those under suspicion had
obtained an inkling that untoward de-
velopments were going forward and 1t
was deemed best to waste no time in
securing the man charged with being |
the principal
Shortly after midnight this morning
Judge Chetlain at his home issued a |
bench warrant for the arrest of fltZ-
gerald, charging him with the larceny
OF $4,000 from the government
vaults
Detective Young. with De- ective
Joseph Kinder of the states attorneys
office CLIMBED INTO a nlSn power au
tomobile and for the better part of an
hour ignored all speed regulations in
a rush to Rogers park.
Fitzgerald appeared at the door In
his night gown and a pair of trousers,
Mrs Fitzgerald standing at the top
of the stairs with white face ana
strained eyes. while Detective Kinder
read the warrant Fitzgerald listened
to the reading with composurc. kissed
his two young children good bye and
left his almost hysterical wife to en-
ter the automobile with the officers
They've caught him at last. they've
caught him at last" is the eNclama-
ion which Detective Kinder ana
Young declare came from the lips OF
Mrs. Fitzgerald in the half hysterical