The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-24
THEFT MYSTERY
IN SUBTREASURY
SOLVED At LAST
George w. Fitzgerald, Assert
ing Teller, Charged With
Stealing $4,000.
FORMER NEWSPAPER MAN
GIVES VALUABLE AID
CORNER IN EGGS FURNISHES
GLUE THAT LEADS TO
CLIMAX.

Chicago. Aug. 23.-The mystery of the
theft of $4,000 from the United States
subtreasury. year and a half ago,
one of the largest losses the govern
ment 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.
which for months completely baffled
the government secret service men.
Fitzgerald was an asserting teller un-
der Assistant United States Treasurer
William Boldenweck. Suspicion at the
time of the theft. February 90 1907,
rested on him, but so plausible was his
story and so intense his apparent inter
est In discovering the real culprit that
interest ceased to center on him.
Negro Is Suspected.
Much work was done on the theory
that the crime had been perpetrated
by a negro. Meanwhile Fitzgerald was
discharged from the government en-
ploy for culpable negligence in allow
ing such a theft to be contaminated
under his very eyes. The money stol-
en- had been used and was tied In pack
ages; some of il had been marked for
destruction at Washington. Any of
them would readily have passed any
where. except for their large denomin-
cations. None of the bills was under
$500. and some were of the 81, 900 and
$1,000 denominations. the 81 900 ones
predominating.
The theft created a sensation through
out the country, and congress at the
last session was asked, and refused to
release Assistant Treasurer Boldenweck
from liability, although il was prom
ised that congress would again con-
slider the matter at its next session.
Newspaper Man Solves Mystery.
Meanwhile Herbert f. Young, a for
mer Chicago newspaperman, reporter.
and now head of the Young Secret
Service agency. became interested in
the case. at first without official con-
nection, but later as the agent of Mr..
Boldenweck. Mr.. Young's attention was
Sirected TO Fitzgerald. The latter.
Upon his discharge from the subtreas-
ury. stated that his whole fortune conf
sisted of 5000 i'm cash and a stock GER
tificate for 81 900. His wife had a $500
interest in the estate of her mother.
which was valued at about 81 900, and
was in litigation.
Fitzgerald, however, according to Mr..
Young. embarked in speculation on a
scale not consistent with the size of his
reputed means. There was. however
no ostentation in FitZgeralds life.
The lavish display which detectives
invariably look for in tracing stolen
funds was absent. Fitzgerald bought
eggs for speculation and stored them.
Corner in Eggs.
In July. 1907, he inaugurated an egg
deal which ultimately, it is stated, in
volved an expenditure of $1,000. and the
following March n similar deal involved
him. according TO Mr.. Young, TO the
extent Of $4,000. Incidentally the for
mer teller became the possessor. In his
wife's name. of a neat brick residence
in Rogers park. suburb of Chicago,
and valued at $500. Mr.. Young de-
clared today that his purchase was
made n roundabout way, passing
through several hands and finally into
those of Mrs. Fitzgerald for a con-
sideration of 81.
Last July the scent is said to have
become hot when Colonel Harry c.
Gano, superintendent of A. Booth & Co.
Continued on Page 2.