The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-15
George W. Fitzgerald, For mer Teller, Is Jailed on
 Charge of Theft
$173,OOO WAS STOLEN
 FROM BANK IN 1907
Fitzgerald Has Been Under Surveillance for a Long Time and Detectives Believe They Have Evidence
 Enough to Convict

Chicago. September 14.-George W |. Fitzgerald. former assistant teller
 in the Chicago sub treasury, was ar
 rested today by deputy United States marshals charged with the mysterious
 theft of s17S,Ooo from the sub-treasury on February 19, 1907. Fitzgerald was
 arrested on a bench warrent based on an indictment returned secretly by a I federal grand jury on February IT, 1910. Three days after the indictment was secretly returned and suppressed on February 20, 1t was announced that the statute of limitations had operated ! to stop possible criminal prosecution in
 the peculiar case. Coincident with thls s ruse by the authorities. secret service men were detailed to watch Fitzgerald < constantly and make rigid investi- gation of the former teller's financial E interests and affairs. Discoveries made by these secret service operatives re- suited in the order for Fitzgerald's s arrest.
 Marshal EbersteIn chief of special X agents of the department of justice, and E Deputy United States Marshals Wal ter Wainwright and J. T. Buckner ar rested Fitzgerald at his insurance brokerage offices Just as the former sub-treasury teller was leaving for his home. Fitzgerald was first taken to United States Marshal Hoys office in the federal building, where he was searched. handcuffed and placed in a cell. Fitzgerald objected to being searched and for a few minutes he was handled somewhat roughly by the dep uty marshals
 Placed in Jail After an hours imprisonment Fitz- gerald was taken before Judge Kene- saw M. Landis, formally arraigned and his bail fixed at $50,0O0. Being unable to give bond in the sum he was 4 taken to the county jail.
 The indictment against Fitzgerald read in court, specifies four counts. Three charges emb mbezzlement and the fourth charges larceny. Under these charges a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison or a fine equal to the sum embedded is the penalty upon conviction.
 Attaches of the district attorneys office declare that since the disap- pearance of the $173.000 from the sub treasury Fitzgerald had done the fol- \ lowwing things:
 Organized the Illinois Car Manu- featuring company with a $50,000 plant at Hammond, Ind; organized the H. linois Bolt, Nut and Forging company
 with large plant in Chicago; dealt 4 extensively in stocks and bonds; moved from modest flat to $10,000 residence in Rogers Park, suburb of Chicago.
 paid for this new home and furnished 1t expensively; lived in expensive style
 and entertained friends lavishly.
 Secret Work Kept Up From the tme of the returning of the suppressed indictment on February IT, the greatest secrecy was used by gov ernment officials in handling the inyesti- gation. The indictment was locked in a vault in the offices of the United States district court clerk, to await such time
 as the federal lawyers 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 operatives were on guard at his home or hotel. The former teller was followed to his offices downtown and watched throughout the day Meanwhile all of his financial trans actions were checked up closely and cer- tain investments traced to him. The fact that secret service men searched Fitzgeralds offices and his resi- dence immediately following his arrest
 
 thing today which hastened his arrest The sub-treasury robbery. which has baff1ed the secret service men for three years, occurred Wednesday, February 20
 1907
 Money In Big Bills
 The money was all in 5000 and $1O.00( bills. Federal officers throughout the country were brought into the hunt fol the missing money and for three years all persons found to have 5000 and 10000 bills were subjected to open or covert scrutiny by secret service agents. The $173,0O0 disappeared from Fitzger- aids cage in the sub b-treasury. where he was employed as sorting teller. Wher questioned regarding the disappearance o the money Fitzgerald said he went ou to lunch and when he returned the money was gone. He was closely ques toned at the time and was shadowet for months year after the robber, Fitzgerald was arrested by private. de tective agency acting for William Bold enweck, the sub-treasurer. The charge was not pressed at that time, however and Fitzgerald proceeded to institute dam ege suits against Boldenweck and thu detective agency for alleged false arrest From that time until his indictment las February Fitzgerald was not molested When asked how he had accumulated certain sums of money he explained tha he had made the money in speculation and showed records of certain deals 1T which he engaged.
 OmciuI Charges MT. Boldenweck, who Is to be succeed ca by Len Small of Kankakee, H., al assistant treasurer. in charge of the Chi oago sub-treasury sent his resignation to President Taft on September 8. N, one of the government officials woult say whether today's action was in an. way affected by MT Boldenwecks resig nation.
 The robbery of the Chicago sub-treasur, stands as one of the largest as we'll a one of the most adroitly executed theft tn the history of the treasury depart ment. The archives of the department recor, . mysterious .embezzlement of s100,00 from the New Orleans sub treasury dur ing the Civil war. The vaults in tn department at Washington were rifled o 1f2.000 in 1872, by a trusted employe, wh vas caught and convicted. few year later the receiving vaults of the same in atitution were robbed of a package o biYs by a clerk. He also was tried am convicted.
 In october, 1907, the sub-treasury il