The Detroit times., 1908-08-24
BIC SUBTREASURY
Theft MYSTERY
THOUGHT SOLVED
GEO W. FITZGERALD, FORMER AS
SORTING TELLER AT CHICAGO,
ARRESTED ON CHARGE or hAv-
ING STOLEN The MONEY.

| CHICAGO, Aug. 2+.-Geo. w Fitz
gerald. a former asserting teller IL
the United states subtreasury. 10 un
der arrest. charged with having stol
en- Sl72. 900 from the vaults there. the
loss OF which caused such sensa
ton throughout the country. year
and half ago. Others are believed
10 have been implicated In the crime
| which, for months,-baffied the govern
ments secret service men.
Suspicion at the time OF the theft
Feb. 20. 1907, rested on Fitzgerald. bu'
SO plausible was his story and 80 In
tense his apparent interest In discov
ering the real culprit that Interest
ceased 10 center In him. Much WORK
Was done on the theory that the crime
had been perpetrated by Negro.
Meanwhile Fitzgerald was discharg
ed from the government employ foI
culpable negligence In allowing such
a theft to be contaminated under his
very eyes --
None OF the stolen bills was under
$500 and some were OF the 1000 and
$1,000 denominations, the 81 900 ones
predominating.
EGNepofter Spots Tifu'
Herbert F. Young, former Chi
cago newspaper reporter and now
head OF the Young Secret Service
agency. became interested In the
case, at first without oficial connec
ton with II but later rs the agent OF
Mr.. Boldenweck Mr.. Young's atten
ton was redirected to Fitzgerald.
The latter. upon his discharge from
the sub.treasury, stated that his whole
fortune consisted OF $500 In cash and
q stock certificate for 81 900. His wife
had $500 interest In the. estate OF
her mother, which was valued al
about $4,000. 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.
Fitzgerald bought eggs for specula
ton and stored them. In July. 1907
he inaugurated an egg deal which ul
| timately, IL Is stated. involved an
expenditure Of 1900. and the follow
ing March a similar deal involved
him. according TO Mr.. Young, to the
extent OF $4,000.
Incidentally the former teller had
become the posssssor, In his wife
name. OF a neat brick residence In
Rogers Park, a suburb Of Chicago. and
valued at $500. Mr.. Young declared
today that this purchase was made In
roundabout way. passing through
several hands and finally into those
OF Mrs. Fitzgerald for consideration
OF one dollar.
Tempted an Acquaintance.
Last July the scent Is said TO have
become hot when Col. Harry c. Gano
superintendent OF A. Booth Co,
business man OF prominence and pub
t lie spirit, reported TO Mr.. Boldenweck
/ It IL said, that Fitzgerald had ap
preached him with proposition &c
pass several 1000 bills.
with your big business connec
tons" Fitzgerald Is alleged TO have
argued TO Col. Gano, you can easily
pass them. There's $500 In II for
you"
After comforting with Nr. Bolden
week. Col. Gano continued negotia
tions with Fitzgerald with the result
that by prearrangement. Detective
! Young says, several witnesses were
secretly present when the former tel
Ter, II Is said. proposed TO pass two
1 81 900 bills to Col. Gano.
Fitzgerald was then Swallowed and
his arrest at his home followed.