The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-11-04
may CLEAR THE
MYSTERY OF THEFT
Chicago Subtreasury Crime
to be Tried After Lapse
of Five Years.

CHICAGO, Nov. 4.--After a lapse
of five years since the mysterious dis
appearance of $4,000 from the Chi
cago subtreasury, George w. Fitz-
gerald, former teller, who was in
dicted in 1910 and charged with the
embezzlement of that sum, is to ap-
pear before Judge Carpenter, of the
United States Court in that city, this
week to be tried for the alleged theft.
Unusual interest is manifested in the
impending trial which, it is hoped
will definitely clear up the mystery
surrounding this case which for years
authorities and the shrewdest among
the secret service detectives.
1t was in the summer of 1907 that
the officials of the Chicago United
States subtreasury were startled by
the information that $4,000 in bills
OF various denominations had mys-
teriously disappeared form the cage
of the teller, George w. Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald himself, who had been in
the employment of the subtreasury
for seven years, gave the first init
nation of the loss of the large sum.
On Wednesday afternoon he inform
ed the cashier, F. G. Russell, that he
was short $4,000. He explained
that the sum, which was missing cor
responded with the total amount of
package of bills which had been
retained in the teller's custody the
night before.
An examination of Fitzgerald's book
showed that the shortage was not a
matter of bookkeeping, but of actual
loss Inquiry at Washington showed
that the money had not been shipped
to the Federal treasury by mistake.
Thomas /. Porter, chief of the United
States secret service in Chicago, be-
gan a careful investigation of The case
and ascertained that three previous
thefts had taken place, it is alleged,
in FitZgerald's cage prior to that
time. These losses were, respectively,
$500, $500 and 5000. Notwithstand-
ing this fact, Fitzgerald enjoyed the
no suspicion was attached to him. He
handled about $1,OOO,O00 each day and
was considered a thoroughly efficient
and reliable employe. 1t was his
custom each night to lock the money
under his charge in his own private
steel box.
When questioned, Fitzgerald laid
suspicion upon a party Of workmen
who had been employed about the
subtreasury the day before the dis
covery of the shortage. The money
Fitzgerald stated, lay in stacks upon
his desk in dark corner of the cage
and might easily have been reached
fro munder the grating. He also said
that at least a dozen men had access
to the safe. Although at that time
considered above suspicion, Fitzgerald
was relieved from duty, but not ar
rested. The officers of the secret
service began a thorough investiga-
ton of the private life of every one
of the employees of the subtreasury,
among them Fitzgerald's. His man
ner of life, it was found, was simple
and unostentanious and he was pop
ular among his companions. Fitzger-
aid asserted his innocence with an air
of injured dignity which ultimately
was effective in the absence of direct
evidence in diverting suspicion to
other quarters.
The case was so puzzling that, after
a consultation with Secretary Shaw,
of the treasury, and President Roose-
welt, John l.. Wilkie, chief of the Unit
ed States secret service, took person