The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-24
WAS DISCHARGED FOR NEGLi-
GENCE AND STARTED TO
SPECULATE AT ONCE.
SCENT GREW QUITE HOT
When He Made Proposition to Super
intendent of Big Chicago Firm to
Pass Some $1,000 BilIs-CuI-
minated in Arrest.

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
government has ever suffered in this
manner, is believed TO have been
solved by the arrest at an early hour
today of George W Fitzgerald Others
are believed TO have been implicated
in the crime
Fitzgerald was asserting teller un-
der Assistant United States Treas.
urer William BoldeuwieE Suspicion
at the time oi the theft, February
20th. 1907, rested on him but no plaus
able was his story and so intense his
apparent interest in discovering the
real culprit that interest ceased to
center in him.
Fitzgerald was discharged from the
government employ for negligence in
allowing sue ha theft TO be consu-
Indtcd uudef MS eyes.
Detective Young Takes Hand.
Herbert +. Young, a former Chicago
newspaper reporter and now head OF
the Young Secret Service Agency, be-
came interested In the case. at first
without official connection, but later
as agent of Assistant Treasurer Bold.
enwick Mr. Youngs attention was
re-directcd to Fitzgerald, The latter,
upon discharge from the subtreasury,
stated that his whole fortune consist.
ed of 5000 in cash and stock Ger
tificate for $1,000 His wife had a
$7700 interest of the estate of her
mother "aued at about $1,000 and IN
litigation.
Fitzgerald, according to Young, EN-
barked in speculation on scale not
consistent with the size of his reputc
means. There was. however, no Os
tentation in Fitzgerald's life Fitzgcr
aid bought eggs for speculation and
stored them. In July. 1907 he inau-
gurated an egg deal which ultimately,
it is stated, involved the expenditure
of $1,000, and the following March n
similar deal involved him, according
to Mr. Young, to the extent of $l5,00g
incidentally the former teller had
become the possessor, in his wife's
name. of a brick residence in Rog
ers Park, a suburb of Chicago, valued
al $500. Mr.. Young declares that the
purchase was made In round about
way.
Wanted to Pass $1,000 Bills.
Last July the scent is said to have
become hot when Colonel Harry c..
Gano. superintendent of A. Booth. re
ported to Mr. Boldenwick. it is sail.
that Fitzgerald had reported to him
with a proposition to pass several 81,
coo bills
After comforting with Mr. Boldon-
wick. Colonel Gano continued negotia-
tions with Fitzgerald with the result
that by pre-arrangements, Detective
Young says, several witnesses were
secretly present when the former tell
er proposed to pass two 1000 bills
to Colonel Gano.
So far as known Fitzgerald was not
seen to pass any of tie large libls.
Shortly after midnight this morning
Juge Chatham of the Cook County
Superior Court issued a bench war
rant for Fitzgerald, charging him with
larceny of. $4,000 from the govern
ment vaults.
FitzgersId's Arrest.
Detective Young. with Detective
Joseph Kinder of the states attorneys
office. climbed into an auto and rush
Cd to Rogers Park.
Fitzgerald appeared at the door in
his night gown and pair of trousers.
Fitzgerald listened to the reading with
composure, kissed his two young chill
dren goCd-b bye. and left his almost hys
teriCal wife to enter the automobile
with the officers.
Behind the bars today he refused to
see newspaper men. but held con-
ference with his attorneys. ]. l. Ennis
and {. r. Litzinger. John NJ Duffy.
attorney for Doldenwick. stated that
tomorrow Fitzgerald would be remov-
ed from the state to the federal juris-
dicfion