Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-11-05
TRIAL To CLEAR
THEFT MYSTERY
George W. Fitzgerald to Face
EmbezzIement Charges
in Chicago

indicted IN 1910 and charged with
The emhezzlement OF that sum. is
to appear before judge Carpenter,
% the United States Court In this
Idty. this week 20 be tried fCr the
alleged theft Unusual interes; Is
manifested IN the impending trial
which. IL is hoped. will definitely
clear up the mystery surrounding this
case which for years completely pul-
zled the government authorities and
the shrcwdest among the secret ser
vice detectives
l. vas In the summer % 1907 that
tn officials OF the Chicago United
ota'es suh-treasury we're startled by
The Information that $4,000 "a
bills ~ various denominations had
myserior sly disappeared from the
cage of the teller. George " Fitzger-
aid Fitzgerald himself. who had
been IN the employ OF the subtreas-
my for seven years, gave the first va
tima',on OF the loss OF tie large
sum On Wednesday afternoon he
informed the cashier, +. G Russell,
tha' he was short $lt3.-0O. lie ex-
pla'ued that the sum. which was
miss ng corresponded with the total
amolqt of package OF bills which
had cen retained in the ieller's Gus
tody ne night before
AZ examination OF Fitzgerald's
boob showed that the shortage was
NOT matter Of bookkeeping, but OF
actual loss Inquiry n Washington
showed that the money had not been
shipped 10 the Federal treasury By
mistake Thomas Porter. chief OF
the Tinted states secret service n
CHICAGO. began a careful inyestlga-
ton ~ the case and ascertained that
three previous thefts had taken place
Il is alleged, In Fitzgerald's cage
prior 20 that time. These losses were.
respectively. $500, $500 and 5000.
Not outstanding this fact Fitzgerald
enjoyed the full confidence OF his
superlors and no suspicion was at
tached 10 him lie handled about
81 900 600 each day and was con-
sidered a thoroughly efficient and
reliable employe II was his custom
each night 10 lock the money under
his charge In his own private steel
box.
When questioned, Fitzgerald laid
suspicion upon party OF workmen
vho. lad been employed about the.
BURY the dag before the dis
cdEery OF the shortage. The money.
Fitzgerald stated. lay in stacks up
on his desk in dark corner OF the
cage and might easily have been
reached from under the grating. lie
also said that at least dozen men
had access To the safe Although at
that time considered above suspicion
Fitzgerald was relieved .rom duty.
b.; not arrested The officers 81
b. secret service began a thorough
lvesiieation OF the private life OF
every one OF the employees OF the
sgbtreasury, among them Ftzgeralds
His manner OF life. II was found,
was simple and transformations and
no VAS popular among his compan-
ons Fitzgerald asserted his limo
couce with an ali Of injured dignity
which ultimately was effective In the
absence Of direci evidence In divert
ing suspicion 20 other quarters
The ease was so puzzling that, al
ter a consultation with Secretary
Shaw OF the treasury and President
Roosevelt. John VI. Wilkie. chief OF
tho United States secret service. took
personal charge o. the Investigation.
Fitzgerald and several other persons
were persistently Swallowed. but Cor
several years absolutely no evideArv
ould be found which would have
warranted any arrest. However. no
reward was offered. as this was con
sidered useless under the circum-
stances Fitzgerald. having lost his
position in the subtreasury. tried DO
earn a living by going into the real
estate business and wac carefully
watched One day. in making a
payment. he offered $1,000 bin
and on the strength OF this and other
Icircumstantial evidence he was are
rested on supicion, but quickly dis
charged again without having beea
formally charged with the theft
The secret service officials con.
tinued 10 watch every movement OBJ.
Fitzgerald and upon the sertngth of
The circumstantial evidence accumr.
lated in the course of several years
secret indictment was found
against him in 1910. Tho indictmeut
formally charged Fitzgerald with th,
embezzlement OF $1,000 and h.
was arrested. but the trial was de-
layed FOR various reasons until It
vas set for this week II IL believed
,hat both sides are FULLY prepared 20
bring the case TO trial and II In no.
lieyed that Fitzgerald will make a
determined fisht. assisted by some OF
The best legal talent in the city