Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-24
FITZGERALD ARREST
OEPl0REO BY W|LK|E
Continued from First Page


liam Bo,denweck. subtreasurer. There is
no mention made of the government.
1t Il. believed that Chief Wiikie and
Capt. Porter look askance upon the cyl
dence in the case. \ number OF tele-
grams passed between them yesterday.
While Cant. Porter refused TO be quoted
and would say nothing beyond general
izng. 1t is believed he does not thlnh
the evidence strong and that arrest Is
premature.
Tn his cell at the county Jail Fitzgerald
was cool and confident. When seen he re-
fused to talk
The evidence which it is asserted has
been collected against Fitzgerald Is OF a
varied nature. The private operatives
who have been working on the case and
Assistant States Attorney Barbour con-
tend that it is strong enough TO make out
a prima facie case against the accused
Friends of Fitzgerald. on the other
hand, have rallied to his defense and ex-
plain away categorically and to their own
satisfaction every point made against
him, detailing every fact in the transact
tions held suspicious by his accusers.
Story of Missing Funds.
The first intimation subtreasury officials
had OF a shortage was on Wednesday
afternoon. when Fitzgerald. who had been
government emp,oye for seven years,
ier's, F.. c. Russell. and told him he was
short $173.OO0
What is that Short $4,000? Why.
man. what is the matter with you?"
II am not fooling, Mr.. Russell. l tell
you 1 am short s173 900"
An examination of Fitzgerald's books
showed that the shortage was not a mat
ter Of bookkeeping but of actual loss.
Further investigation. 1t is said devel-
oped that by strange coincidence the bal
ance retained by the asserting teller in
his custody the night before was the ex-
Washington showed that the money had
not been shipped there by mistake.
Thomas I. Porter, chief of the United
States secret service in Chicago. ascer-
tanned that three previous thefts had
taken place, It is alleged. in Fitzgerald's
cage prior to this time. These losses
were. respectively. $500. 5000 and $500.
Fitzgerald. when questioned. laid sus-
picion upon a party OF workmen who had
been employed about the subtreasury the
said. lay in stacks upon his desk in a
dark corner of the cage and might easily
have been reached from under the grating
He said that at least a dozen men had ac
cess to the cage.
Handled 81 900, 900 Daily.
Fitzgerald handled about 100000 each
day. 1t was his custom each night to
lock the money in his own private steel
box
There Is absolutely no way of telling
the denomination of the money lost said
Fitzgerald at that time and later to Col
Gano.
Investigated, among them Fitzgerald
His manner Of life was simple, his man.
ner genial and he was popular among his
companions
He constantly asserted his innocence
with an air of injured dignity which ultf-
mately was effective in the absence Of
direct evidence In diverting suspicion to
other quarters.
John E. Wilkie. chief of the United
States secret service. after a consultation
with Secretary Shaw of the Treasury and
President Roosevelt took personal charge
of the case.
A widespread and systematic investiga-
ton covering the whole country followed
but without obtaining Sufficient evidence
to warrant an arrest. No reward was
offered.
Fitzgerald. however, although out of the
service. was not entirely lost sight Of 1t
was reported that his actions indicated
nervousness and that he drank more than
had been his custom.
On one occasion a reporter. who had
known him in the subtreasury. met him
at a popular restaurant The newspaper
man said that when Fitzgerald noticed
the writer looking at MIN he abruptly Ie1t
the table with his meal unfinished
The developments. however. were not
felt to indicate in any conclusive way
that Fitzgerald. In the light of previous
knowledge of him. had guilty knowledge
of the theft.
When Young entered the case he review
ed all the evidence that had been obtained
and concluded that while the clues lead
ing I'm the direction of Fitzgerald We're
anything but satisfactory, there was
nothing to implicate any other person and
that as a foundation of the new investiga-
ton Fitzgerald was the one to watch.