The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-08
Case Of George W. Fitzgerald,
Charged With $4,000 En-
bezzlement From Sub
Treasury at Chicago
BAFtlED POLICE FIVE YEARS
Fitzgerald Protests Innocence and Cir.
cumstanoes are Very Confusing
Much Interest is Manifested
In Trial.


Chicago, Ill, Sept. S.-Chicagoans are
wondering II the veil of mystery will be
theft when George W. Fitzgerald Is
tried for the alleged embezzlement at
the present term of the Federal court
Public opinion as to F'itzgerald's guilt
or innocence is divided, as IL has been
ever since the finger of suspicion was
first pointed to him. Many persons
firmly believe the accused man Is the
unfortunate victim of great mistake
Others do not hesitate to declare their
opinion that lF'itzgerald is one of the
smoothest rogues with which Uncle
Sans secret service men have ever
had to deal.
The only point In the case concerning
which there is not the slightest doubt
is that fortune in cash--ofilcially
stated to be disappeared from
within the steel cage and granite walls
of the sub treasury as mystcriously as
if the money had wings, literally as
well as figuratlvely. and for nearly five
long years it's whereabouts has remain
ed an absolute mystery.
Story of the Theft.
The first intimation subtreasury Of
1cials had of shortage was on
Wednesday afternoon. in the summer
of 1908, when Fitzgerald, who had been
a government employe for seven years,
walked from his cage over to the cash
ier's, +. c. Russell, and told him he was
short $173.OOO.
An examination of F'itzgerald's books
showed that the shortage was not a
matter of bookkeeping, but of actual
less. Further investigation, IL is said,
developed that by strange coincidence
the balance retained by the asserting
teller i'm his custody the night before
was the exact amount of money miss
ing Inquiry at Washington showed
that the money had not been shipped
there by mistake.
Asserts His Innocence.
Thomas I. Porter, chief of the United
States secret service in Chicago, as
certaned that three previous thefts
had taken place, 1t Is alleged, i'm Fftz-
geralds cage prior to this time. These
losses were respectively, $500, 5000 and
5000
Fitzgerald. when questioned, laid
suspicion upon a party of workmen
who had been employed about the sub
treasury the day previous. The money,
Fitzgerald said. lay In stacks upon his
desk In a dark corner of the cage and
might easily have been reached from
under the grating. lie said that at
least a dozen men had access to the
cage.
The private life of every employe
was investigated. among them Fitzger-
AIDS. His manner of life was simple.
his manner genial and he was popular
among his associates.
He constantly asserted his innocence
with an air of injured dignity which
ultimately was effective I'm the absence
of direct evidence I'm diverting suspi-
cion to other quarters
WiIkie In Charge.
John u. Wllkie. chief of the United
States secret service, after consul
tation with Secretary of the. Treasury
Shaw and President Roosevelt took
personal charge of the case. A wide
spread and systematic Investigation
covering the whole country followed
hut without obtaining sufficient evil
dence to warrant an arrest.
Fitzgerald, however. although out OF
the service. was never lost sight OF Tor
a day. More than two years later in
terest I'm the case was revived by the
announcement that Fitzgerald had
been arrested and charged with the
theft. IL was said at the time that the
secret service men had found that he
was spending money very literally. lie
was reported TO have bought home
for his family and TO be In easy cir
cumstances financially. Moreover,
report was circulated that Chicago
business man had confessed that F1tz-
gerald had offered him liberal com
mission IL he would pass some $l,0OO
bills for him.
Discharged and Rcarrested.
However much truth there may nave
been In these stories the fact OF the
matter is that the accused man was
discharged almost Immediately aiter
his arrest without trial. II was inti-
mated that the officers had blundercd
by taking their man into custody De-
fore the time was ripe. Fitzgerald ex-
IL
at the time by saying that he had
made considerable money by speculat-
Ing In eggs.
Just when the public had about con-
cluded that the matter had been dropp-
ed II was surprised TO learn that f1tz-
gerald was again under arrest on the
old charge. II developed that the
a. al