Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-03-25
The snbtressury Loss.

Baltimore Evening Sun. March IS.
While Secret Service operators from the
Treasury Department in Washington are
investigating the disappearance Of S32.-
900 from the Baltimore subareasury at
the time the currency was turned over TO
the depositories in Washington. Philadel-
phia and the local Federal Reserve Bank,
local officials today gave information which
Indicated careIessness on the part Of those
who had charge Of the transfer.
These officials were sent from the Treas
ury Department at Washington to close up
the official business Of the local depository
and turn over that end Of the business to
the Federal Reserve. They were response
bic for the bringing in Of II laborers, I'M
bonded and men about whom the officials.
who for years had been responsible for
the accounts in the Subtreasury. knew
nothing: and that these laborers were in
the proximity Of the cage from which the
money disappeared.
The official in charge Of the transfer
partly admitted in the presence Of old
subtreasury officials that he had assisted
the subtreasury employees in checking up
the 81 bills from which 81. 900 was taken
and had found the count all right When
the later audit was made. however. by the
transfer party. 1t was found that $1,000
was missing
There Is possibility that Robert C. Hill
ton. assistant treasurer. who was in charge
Of the subtreasury. may have fight on
his hands TO get release from the $780,
600 bond which is now being held up.
c. Percy Hammond. now assistant cash
Ter Of the local Federal Reserve Bank. who
was formerly assistant TO Mr.. Hilton. de-
ciared this morning that he was positive
that the money was taken while it was
being transferred.
This matter is very unfortunate for the
old membersO Of the force Of the Subueasury
who have been working at their posts for
years without q single blemish. said Mr..
Hammond. Il am absolutely confident
that there was no one connected with the
old force who had anything to do with this
shortage. 10 my service here for 20 years
l have never found more honorable set
OF men. The money was checked up and
doubled checked by US when il was taken
out Of the vaults and placed in the cages.
There was positively no shortage then.
The conditions under which the money was
taken out and transferred that day were
unusual. There were 23 men. II Of whom
were laborers. who had never been in our
Office before. The laborers were working
not only where the coin was being handled.
but where the paper money was also. IL
10 a most unfortunate occurrence, but
am positive that the shortage occurred
while this transfer was being made"
The Treasury officials began the transfer
on a moments notice. Il involved the
movement Of more than $4,000, 900 In
gold. silver and notes. and ordinarily would
have required a week. The Washington
officials gave the local officials few hours
notice.
They started their transfer without ask
ing the local officials any advice or taking
them in any way into their arrangements.
It Is said. and began hauling gold. silver
and notes around the Office much as IL it
were -four or sugar. The local officials made
their audit and their check and placed the
money in the cages for the Washington
officials to verify and then arranged for
shipment.
There was some delay in making ar
ransements with the express and postal
authorities for handling the money. Dur
ing this interim. the money was in the
wire cages 1t was during the time the
money was in these cages that il is sup.
posed. according to local officials, to have
disappeared.