Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-27
FITZGERALD In
A BETTER LICH I
MAN ACCUSED OF $I73,O0O ROB
Berry CLAIMS CAN PROVE
INNOCENCE.

Chicago, Aug. 26. = The carefully
planned structure Of circumstantial
evidence which "tin star detectives"
have erected in the hope of convicting
George w. Fitzgerald Of the $4,000
subtreasury robbery was assailed
with SO much vigor yesterday that it
threatened to collapse.
1t was day filled with activities
for all concerned in the investigation
of the case. But if the result of any of
these activities was favorable to the
prosecution the fact was concealed.
In the first place the two arrests
which H. f. Young, chief of the Sc
| cret service agency, which caused the
premature arrest Of Fitzgerald, inti-
| mated would be made during the day
| did not materialize. Moreover, Assis-
tant States Attorney James Barbour
| indicated that there would be no fur
| the arrests.
/ For the first time since Fitzgerald s
arrest, Col. H. G. Gano discussed the
case. He refused to go into detail as
to the conversation which he had
with Fitzgerald relating to the sup
posed sale or exchange Of a bill Of
| large denomination, but his remarks
the value of his testimony.
Col. Gano Incorrectly Quoted.
"Did you have a conservation with
Fitzgerald in which he offered to fur
nish bill Of large denomination, a
part of the stolen $173,000, if you
would pass it?" Col Gano was asked.
II had a conversation with MIN, but
the printed account of 1t was garbled
| and inaccurate" he replied. II did not
make any of the assertions credited
to me. l do not care to repeat the
conversation at this time"
"Is 1t not possible that Fitzgerald,
who has often joked Of the case with
his friends, was not talking seriously
at the time?"
1T is possible, and cannot say
now whether he was talking seriously
or not" replied the chief witness
against Fitzgerald.
1t is upon Col. Ganos testimony
that the detectives had hoped to base
their case against Fitzgerald. On the
night of Fitzgerald's arrest Col Gano
was quoted as fatty charging the pris-
oner with plotting with him to pass
some of the stolen bills.
| Detectives are "BottIed Up"
In the meantime Mr.. Barbour sue
cessfully bottled up the detectives
who daily have been limiting at sur
prising developments in the case, but
which as yet have not become more
| tangible than hints. When asked why
he had assumed this attitude he mere
| ly said that .it was high time" they
were bottled up.
1t was reported that the $4,000
bill which has been mentioned in con-
nection with the ease against" Fitz-
gerald had been traced to ''Blind" ohm
| Condor, the former gambler. Assis-
tant United States Treasurer William
Boldenweck, however, denied that
such was the case 1t was pointed out
that the bill had been returned to the
subtreasury from the Continental Ma
tional bank, from which II had been
traced back to the Commercial Ma.
tional bank. Incidentally it became
| known that Capt Thomas L Porter Of
the secret service had investigated
the transaction before 1t reached the
ears of the "tin stars" and had dis
covered that there was nothing in the
transaction to implicale Fitzgerald.
/ Fitzgerald to Make Statement
Fitzgerald spent the greater part OF
the day in Attorney Litzinger's Office
in the Ashland block, assisting in the
preparation nt a statement relating
to his various business transactions
In this statement each deal is describ.
ed in detail, and according to Mr. Lit.
Finger, it will balance itself in such
a way as to leave nc room for doubt
as to the source of income of the ac.
i cused man.
81 have taken his bank book and
his various accounts so that this VIII
not merely be a statement but will be
4 proof of his innocence said Mr.. Lit
Finger. Fitzgerald naturally feels the
disgrace of his arrest, but he is as
confident of his acquittal as am