Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-09-16
GEORGE w. FITZGERALD, LONG
SUSPECTED, is FINALLY
ARRESTED.
CHICAGO SUB-TREARURY TELLER
Mysterious Disappearance of $4,000
in 1907 Basis of Action.-Sudden
Prosperity Arouses Federal
Authorities.

Chicago, Sept. 15.-George w. Fitz-
gerald, a former assistant teller in the
Chicago federal sub-treasury, was ar
rested by deputy United States mar
shals, charged with the mysterious
theft of $173 900 from the sub-treasury
on Feb. 10, 1907. Fitzgerald was ar
rested on bench warrant based on an
indictment returned secretly by fed
eral grand jury, Feb. II, 1910, and
the existence of which was suppressed
by the federal authorities.
Three days after the indictment was
secretly returned and suppressed, on
Feb. II, 1910, it was announced that
the statute of limitations had operat-
Gu to stop possible criminal action in
the peculiar case. Coincident with this
ruse by the authorities, secret service
men were detailed to watch Fitzger-
aid constantly and make a rigid in
vestigation of the former teller's f1nan-
cial interests and affairs. Discoveries
made by these secret service opera
tives resulted in the order for Fitzger
AIDS arrest.
ToIlHdiiy HITdiSncus
After an hours Imprisonment, Fitz-
gerald was taken before Judge Kene-
saw M. Lands. He was formally ar
raigned and his bail was fixed at $780,
| 900. Being unable to give bond in
this sum, he was taken to the county
jail
Attaches of the district attorneys
office declare that since the strange
disappearance of the $4,000 from
the sub-treasury, Fitzgerald has done
the following things: Organized the
Illinois Car Manufacturing company,
with a $4,000 plant at Hammond, Ind.
Organized the Illinois Bolt, Nut and
Forging company, with a large plant
in Chicago. Dealt extensively in
stocks and bonds. Moved from a
modest fiat to a $4,000 residence in
Rogers park, a suburb of Chicago
Paid for this new home and furnished
it extensively. Lived in expensive
style and entertained friends lavishly
Always Under Surveillance.
From the time of the returning of
the suppressed indictment on Feb. II,
the greatest secrecy was used by gov
eminent officials in handling the in
vestigation. The indictment was locked
up in a vault in the offices of the
United States district court clerk to
await such time as the federal law
yers felt they had sufficient evidence
to warrant the arrest of Fitzgerald.
All this time Fitzgerald was never
out of sight of secret service men
when awake and while he slept opera
tives were on guard at his home or
hotel.
Battling Mystery.
The sub-treasury robbery, which has
been one of the most battling myster-
les in years which the secret service
has been required to investigate, oc.
CURED Wednesday, Feb 20, 1907. The
money was all in 1000 and $4,000
bills. Federal officers throughout the
country were brought into the hunt for
the missing money. For three years
all persons found to have $1,000 and
$4,000 were subjected to open or CO.
vert scrutiny by secret service men.
Il
| gerald'S cage in the Sub-treasury,
| where he was employed as sorting tell
err When questioned regarding the
disappearance of the money Fitzgerald
said that he had gone out to lunch and
that when he returned the money was
gone. He was closely questioned at
the time and was Swallowed for
months. A year after the robbery &C.
Cured, Fitzgerald was arrested by a
private detective agency acting for
VIM. Boldenweck, the sub-treasurer
The charge was not pressed at this
time, however, and Fitzgerald proceed
ed to institute damage suits against
Boldenweck and the detective agency
for alleged false arrest
From that time until his indictment
last February, Fitzgerald was not mo-
| Tested. When asked how he had &C
cumulated certain sums of money, he
explained that he had made the money
in speculation and showed records of
certain deals in which he engaged.