New-York tribune., 1908-08-24
SUR-TREASURY ARREST
THINK MYSTERY SOLpED.
Asserting Teller Charged scith Theft
of SI73, 600 IN Chicago.

manner is believed TO have been solved by the
arrest at an early hour to-day of George W.
fitzgerald. Others are believed TO have been
implicated in the crime. which for months COM
nletely baf1ed government Secret Service men,
Fitzgerald asserting teller under As
sistant United States Treasurer William Bolden-
wreck Suspicion at the time of the theft.
Fehurary 20. 1907, rested him. but plausi
bic was his story and intense his apparent
interest in discovering the real culprit that IN
terest ceased to centre in him. Much work was
done on the theory that the crime had been per-
petrated by negro. Meanwhile Fitzgerald was
discharged from the government employ for
cupahle negligence in allowing such theft TO
be committed practically under his very eyes.
The money stolen had been used and was tied
in packages, some having been marked for de-
Struction at Washington. 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
$1,000 denominations. the $1,000 one predomi
mating.
The theft caused sensation throughout the
country. and Congress at the last session was
asked. and refused, to release Assistant Treas
urer Boldenwrec5 from liability, although II was
promised that Congress would again consider the
question at its next session.
REPORTER HIS NEMESIS.
Meanwhile Herbert F. Young a former Chi
cago newspaper reporter and now head Of the
Young Secret Service Agency, became interested
IN the case, at first without official connection
with II, but later the agent of Mr. Boden-
wreck. Mr. Young's attention redirected 10
Fitzgerald. The latter upon his discharge from
the Sub-Treasury stated that his whole fortune
consisted OF $500 IN cash and stock certificate
for $1,000. His wife had $500 interest in the
estate of her mother. which was valued at about
1000 and was In litigation
FITZGERALD, according to Mr. Young. embarked
In spc Ilation on q scale not consistent with
The size OF his reputed means. There was, how
ever no ostentation In his life The lavish dis
play which detectives invariably look for in
tracing stolen funds absent Fitzgerald
bought eggs for speculation and stored them.
IN July, 1907, he entered an egg deal which. it
Is said. involved ultimate expenditure of
$1,000 and the following March a similar deal.
socordi- 81 Mr.. Young, involved $4,000.
Incidentally, the former teller had become the
possessor, in his wife's name. of a neat brick
residence in Rogers Park, a suburb of Chicago,
and valued at $500 Mr.. Young declared to-
day that this purchase was made in a round
about way, passing through several hands and
finally into those Of Mrs. Fitzgerald for con-
sideration Of 81.
WANTED $1,000 BILLS CHANGED.
Last July the scent is said to have become
hot when Colonel Harry C Gano. superinten-
dent Of A Booth & Co. business man Of prom
inence and public spirit, reported to Mr.. Bolden-
wreck, it is said, th-t Fitzgerald had approached
him with proposition to pass several $1,000
bills
With your big business connections Fitz-
gerald is alleged to have argued to Colonel
Gano. you can easily pass them. There's 5000
IN il for you.
Colonel Gano is reported to have declared that
Fitzgerald had large roll OF similar bills
After comforting with Mr.. Boldenweck Colonel
Gano continued negotiations with Fitzgerald.
with the result that by prearrangement. Mr..
Young says several witnesses were secretly
present when the former teller is said to have
proposed TO pass two $1,000 bills to Colonel
Gano.
81 will bring two. Fitzgerald is alleged TO
have said for you get rid Of two just as
well one''
So far as known Fitzgerald was not seen to
pass any OF the large bills
From the moment OF Colonel Gano's first inter
T'sw with the Assistant United States Treasurer.
II is said. Mr. Young some Of his men shad-
owed Fitzgerald The trail. 1t is intimated, in
volved others, not only in helping Fitzgerald 10
dispose Of the money alleged to have been stolen.
but in the very act Of his having extracted it
from the Treasury vaults and in later covering
up the tracks. Who these persons were those
working on the case state they not yet pre-
pared to tell.
It had not been intended to arrest Fitzgerald
at this time as further evidence WAS not only
wanted against him, but developments were ex-
pected which would conclusively involve others.
However. It is stated that those under suspicion
had obtained an inkling that untoward develop
ments were going forward. and it was deemed
hest to waste no time I'm arresting the
charged with being the principal.
The case being properly under federal
jurisdiction a United States Judge first
sought. but none could be found Assistant
States Attorney Barbour next approached,
and shortly after midnight this morning Judge
Chetlain. at his home, issued bench warrant
for the arrest of Fitzgerald, charging him with
the larceny of $4,000 from the government
vaults
Young, with Joseph Kinder, a detective of the
State Attorneys Office, climbed into high
power automobile, and for the better part of
hour ignored all speed regulations In a to
Rogers Park.
CoMPo. ID AT ARREST
Fitzgerald appeared at the door in his night
gown and pair OF trousers, Mrs Fitzgerald
standing at the top OF the stairs with white face
and strained eyes, while Kinder read the war
rant. Fitzgerald listened to the reading with
composure, kissed his two young children good
by and left his almost hysterIcal wife TO enter
the automobile with the officers.
They've caught him at last, they've caught
hin at lastt' is the exclamation which Kinder
and Yong declare came from Mrs. Fitzgerald in
the half hysterical state into which she fell when
she eomprehended the object OF the officers
Visit. Fitzgerald himself merely remarked: 81
81 'ose you want ne TO go to jail Guess I'd