The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-28
CHARGED WITH
COLOSSAL STEAL
Former Subtreasury Teller in Chicago
Under Arrest.
THE AMOUNT STOLEN IS $4,000
Secret Services Mem Worked for Year
ON Case Reporter, Now Head Of .
Detective Agency, Works Up the
Evidence which Leads to Arrest of
George w. Fitzgerald.

Chicago Especially The mystery
OF the theft of $173,00O from the
United States subtreasury year and
half ago, one Of the largest losses
| the government has ever suffered In
this manner, is believed to have been
solved by the arrest of George w.
Fitzgerald. Others are believed to
have been implicated in the crime,
which for months completely banned
government secret service men.
Fitzgerald was an asserting teller
| under Assistant United States Treas
urer VIM. Boldenwreck. Suspicion at
the time of the theft, February 20,
1907, rested on him, but so plausible
was his story and so intense his APP
parent interest in discovering the real
culprit that interest ceased to center
in him. Much work was done on
the theory that the crime had been
perpetrated by colored man.
Meanwhile Fitzgerald was dis
charged from the government employ
for culpable negligence in allowing
such theft to be consummated UNI
der his very eyes.
For Big Amounts.
The money stolen had been used
and was tied in packages, some hav-
ing been marked for destruction at
Washington. Any of the bills would
readily have passed anywhere except
for their large denomination. None
of the bills was under $500 and some
were of the $1,000 and $4,000 de-
nominations, the $1,000 predominant
ing.
The theft created sensation
throughout the country, and Con-
gress, at the last session, was asked,
and refused, to release Assistant
Treasurer Boidenweck from liability,
although 1t was promised that Con-
gress would again consider the mat
ter at it's next session.
Meanwhile Herbert p. Young, a
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 1t, but later as the agent
of Mr.. Boldweck. Mr.. Young's at
tention was redirected to Fitzgerald
The latter, upon his discharge from
the Subtreasury, stated that his
whole fortune consisted of $500 in
cash and stock certificate for
$1,000. His wife had $500 inter-
est in the estate of her mother, which
was valued at about $4,000 and was
in litigation.
incidentally, the former teller had
become the possessor, in his wife's
name, of neat brick residence in
Rogers Park, a suburb of Chicago.
and valued at $500. Mr.. Young
declared that this purchase was made
in roundabout way, passing through
several hands and finally into those
of Mrs. Fitzgerald for consideration
of 81.
Last July Col. Harry c. Ganno,
superintendent of A. Booth & Com
pany, business man of prominence
and public spirit, reported to Mr..
Boldenweck, it is said, that Fitzerald
had approached him with a PROPOSE
tion to pass several $1,000 bills.
with your big business connec-
tions," Fitzgerald is alleged to have
argued to Colonel Ganno. ''you can
easily pass them. There is $500 in it
for YOU"
Fitzgerald is reported to have de-
clared that he had roll of similar
bills that would choke a horse. I"
After comforting with Mr.. Bolden-
week Colonel Ganno continued nego-
tiations with Fitzerald with the re-
suit that, by Encouragement, Detec-
tive Young says, several witnesses
we're secretly present when the for
mer teller, 1t is said. proposed to pass
the two $1,000 bills to Colonel
Ganno.
81 will bring two," Fitzgerald is
alleged to have said "for you can
get rid of two just as well as one. :"
So far as is known Fitzgerald was
not seen to pass any of the large
bills.
From the moment of Colonel Can
nos first interview with the Assis-
tant United States Treasurer, it is
said, Mr.. Young or some of his men
Swallowed Fitzgerald. The trail, it Is
| intimated broadly, involved others,
not only in helping Fitzgerald to dis
pose of the money alleged to have
been stolen, but in the very act of
| his having extracted 1t from the
Treasury vaults and in the later COW
ering of tracks. Who these persons
were, those working on the case
state they are not yet prepared to
| divulge. 1t had not been intended
to arrest Fitzgerald at this time, as
further evidence was not only want
ed against him, but developments
were expected which would conclu-
sively involve others. However. it is
stated that those under suspicion
had obtained an inkling that unto
ward developments were going for
ward and 1t was deemed best to waste
no time in securing the man charged
with being the principal.
The case being one properly under
federal Jurisdiction. United States
Judge was first sought, but none
could be found. Assistant States
Attorney Barbour was next approach
| ed, and shortly after midnight this
| morning, Judge Chetlain, at his
home. issued a bench warrant for
the, arrest of Fitzgerald, charging
him with the larceny Aof $173, 900
from the government vaults.