Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 26, 1908, Page 3

~—SOLVE MYSTERY: OF MONSTER THEFT | cago Subtreasury in 1907 | May Be Cleared Up. FORMER TELLER IS ARRESTED Heavy Speculation After Discharge Throws Suspicion on Him— Others Involved. Chicago, Aug. 25.—The mystery of the theft of $173,000 from the United States subtreasury a year and a half : - ago, one of the largest losses the gov- ernment has ever suffered in this manner, is believed to have been solv- ed by the arrest at an early hour yes- terday of George W. Fitzgerald. Oth- ers are believed to have been impli- -cated in the crime which for months ‘completely baffled government secret service men. Fitzgerald was an assorting teller under Assistant United States Treas- urer William Boldenweck. Suspicion at the time of the theft, Feb. 20, 1907, rested on him, but so’ plausible was his story and so intense his apparent interest in discovering the real culprit that interest ceased to center in him. Discharged for Negligence. Much work was done on the theory that the crime had been perpetrated by a colored man. Meanwhile Fitz- gerald was discharged from the gov- ernment employ for culpable negli- gence in allowing such a theft to be consummated under his’ very eyes. The money stolen had been used and was tied in packages, some of them having been marked for destructicn at Washington. Any of them would readily have passed anywhere except for their large denominations. None of the bills was under $500 and some were of the $1,000 and $5,000 denomi- nations, the $1,000 ones predominat- ing. Reporter Takes Trail. Meantime Herbert F. Young, a former Chicago newspaper reporter and now head of the Young Secret Service agency, became interested in the case, at first without official con- nection with the case, but later as the agent of Mr. Boldenweck. Mr. Young’s attention was redirected to Fitzgerald. The latter upon his discharge from the subtreasury stated that his whole fortune consisted of $600 in cash and a stock certificate for $1,000. His wite had a $700 interest in the estate ot her mother, hich was valued at about $4,000 and was in litigation. Fitzger- ald, however, according to Mr. Young, engaged in speculation on a scale not consistent with the size of his re- puted means. . Involved in Big Deals. In July 1907, he inaugurated an egg a deal which ultimately, it is stated, involved an expenditure of $7,000, and the following March a similar deal in- volving him, according to Mr. Young, to the extent of $15,000. Incidentally the former teller had become the pos- sessor, in his wife’s name, of a brick residence in Rogers Park, a suburb of Chicago, valued at $8,500. Last July the scent is said to have become hot when Col. Harry C. Gano, superintendent of A. Booth & Co., re- ‘ ported to Mr. Boldenweck, it is said, | that Fitzgerald had approached him + with a proposition to pass several $1,000 bills. Passes $1,000 Bills. After conferring with Mr. Bolden- | weck Col. Gano continued negotia- tions with Fitzgerald, with the result | that by prearrangement several «wit- iM nesses were secretly present when the former teller passed two $1,000 bills to Col, Gano. From the moment of Col. Gano's first interview with the assistant United States treasurer, it is said, Mr. Young or some of his men shadowed Fitzgerald. The trail, it is intimated broadly, involved others, not only in helping Fitzgerald to dispose of the money alleged to have been stolen, but in the very act of his having ex- tracted it from*the treasury vaults and in the later covering of track | Who these persons were, those work- | ing on the case state they are not yet prepared to divulge. | Fire Wipes Out Town. ( Reno, Nev., Aug. 25.—The railroad town of Hazen, forty miles east of Reno, was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. Loss, $125,000. Special trains were rushed to the scene to fight the fire and render aid to the homeless, who are being taken to Fallon. Explosion in Repair Shop. Marshalltown, Iowa, Aug. 25. — A \\ lighted match in the hands of an auto- A mobile repairer who was searching for a screw under the touring car of J. M. Slusher, ignited leaking gasoline, causing an explosion and fire which completely destroyed the machine. Felton Man Hit by Train. Barnesville, Minn., Aug. 25.—Train crews on No. 548, a local freight be- tween here and Crookston, reported the killing of Bob Woods, a merchant of Felton, who was struck by the Win nipeg limited. i Cholera’s Toll of Death. St. Petersburg, Aug. 25.—The official t report of cholera for the week ending Aug. 20 in all Russia shows 1,143 i cases and 617 deaths. Since that date 4 “ the cases have reached 2,024 and the deaths 900. NATIONAL INSULTED) Queen Wilhelmina Anxious to Preserve Peace—Arbitration Is Be- ing Urged. The Hague, Aug. 25.—The distant Venezuelan war cloud does not ruffle the placidity of the Dutch capital in the least. There is no enthusiasm over the prospect of punishing Presi- dent Castro for the insult suffered by the Dutch minister. The public ap- pears content to let the government take whatever measures it considers proper and necessary and displays lit- tle interest or curiosity in the course events have taken in the diplomatic relations between Holland and Vene- zuela. Prepare for War. Some show of interest was made di- rectly after a recent meeting of the cabinet, at which the entire situation was discussed, but since then the wheels of the government have moved slowly, the minister of foreign af- fairs awaiting the return of M. de Reus, the Netherlands minister-resi- dent in Garacas, who was dismissed by the Venezuelan president. M. de Reus is expected to arrive here to- day. The officials of the foreign office profess to believe that there is yet a chance of settling the trouble between the two nations by diplomacy, but preparations which are now being made by the ministry of marine dis- credits such optimism. Nothing less than the speedy withdrawal of Presi- dent Castro’s decrees which have been the means of crippling trade in the Isl- and of Caracas and something in the nature of an apology will be satisfac- tory to Holland. National Honor Insulted. There are few, however, who be- lieve that President Castro will con- sent to these terms. Arbitration is be- ing urged by some of the newspapers, which put forward the argument that Holland, being the home of the world’s peace conferences and its capital the site of the peace palace, should be the last country to embark in warfare. The government would be glad if such a solution as that offered by ar- bitration were possible. Queen Wil- helmina particularly is anxious to pre- serve peace, but apart from the fact that Castro laughs at the decisions of arbitration courts, the cabinet regards the summary dismissal of its minister as an insult to the national honor which is outside the class of cases for which arbitration is suitable. SHOTS FIRED DURING RIOT. Fierce Battl eBreaks Out at Cleveland During Capmakers’ Strike. Cleveland, Aug. 25. — A fierce riot between striking capmakers and strikebreakers took place Saturday. One man was badly. beaten and several were hurt by flying missiles. The po- lice were compelled to fire on the mob before breaking up the riot. The strikebreakers are employed by Edward Levy & Co. As they were leaving the factory the strikers in a body attacked them and a sharp en- counter followed. Blows with clubs and bare fists were exchanged, and the street was crowded with a fighting mob. Stones flew thick. Special Policeman A. H. Templeton ran to the scene of the trouble, seized several of the men and tried to pull them apart. He was hurled to the ground by the strikers, who kicked and beat him. Templeton raised himself to his knees and fired a shot in the face of the mob, which immediately scattered. Several other shots were fired, but the mob lost its firmness, A squad of policemen arriyed on the scene just as the shots were fired. They dispersed the mob and the work- men left the place in safety. BOYS WRECK A TRAIN. Fireman Killed and Engineer Badly Scalded. Atlanta,.Ga., Aug. 25.—The South- western limited on the Southern rail- way was wrecked four miles north of Suwanee, Ga. yesterday afternoon. The ‘colored fireman was killed and the engineer was badly scalded. None of the passengers was jured. Three small boys were seen run- ning away from the scene just prior to the wreck. An investigation devel- oped the fact that a bolt had been placed upon the track. in- FATAL DUEL AT DEPOT. Two Tennessee Men Meet and Ex- change Shots. Cumberland Gap, Tenn., Aug. 255.— George Britton and Frank Davis, two prominent men of this section, met at the depot at Shawnee, two miles east of here Saturday and engaged in a duel. Britton was shot five times, the fifth bullet penetrating the heart and killing him instantly. Davis re- ceived wounds in the abdomen, breast and shoulders and is not expected to live. The shooting was the result of a feud. Rattler in Kindling Bites Two. Sergent, Ky., Aug. 25. — Charles Reiss, a Knott county farmer, carried an armful of bark into the house for stove kindling. A _ six-foot rattler crawled from it and two of his chil- dren were bitten before the reptile could be killed. They will die. Fire Causes $150,000 Loss. Belleville, Ill, Aug. 25.— Fire last night destroyed the factory of the Jor- dan Shoe company and the elevator of the Crown Milling company, entail- ing a loss of $150,000. CP tint tne OFFICERS IN DUEL Highwaymen Mistake Detectives for Ordinary Citizens and Battle Ensues. Sensational Revolver Fight in Streets of Minneapolis—Score of Bullets Fired. Minneapolis, Aug. 25.—Two bandits who have been in the habit of holding up residents of South Minneapolis for a week or more tried to hold up De- tectives Harry Hayes and Andrew Crummy Saturday evening, with the result that one of them, Walter Brandt of Fort Madison, Iowa, is dead, while the other, wounded and bleeding, is prowling through the city in search of a place of safety. The wounding of the two highway- men was accomplished during one of the most sensational revolver battles in the history of the city. It occurred near Twenty-sixth street and Elliot avenue, about 10:30, at a time when the people were returning to their homes from the business districts. At least twenty shots were fired by the two officers and the two bandits. Bullets flew in every direction. Shot Through the Head. Brandt, the bandit, was shot through the head and through the legs. He died shortly after being taken to the hospital. That the second bandit was wound- ed there is no doubt in the minds of the detectives. Detectives Crummy and Hayes were detailed Saturday evening to search for the highway- men. They were out near Twenty- sixth street and Elliot avenue, in the vicinity of which the two bandits have been in the habit of operating and waited to be accosted. Bach offi- cer had provided himself with a paper bag. Into these bags they placed their revolvers. Thus, as they walked down the street they looked like a couple of men returning with sacks of fruit or groceries. Strangers Looked Suspicious. The two were on Elliot avenue, walking toward Twenty-sixth street, when two men approached them from the opposite direction. The officers had their suspicions that the two strangers were the men they were looking for, but did not signify by word or action that they were suspi- cious. “T guess these two will do,” said one of the strangers as they drew up in front of the two detectives. As the words were uttered one of the men fired a shot. The bullet grazed Detec- tive Hayes’ neck. Hardly had the bandit shot before the two detectives raised the sacks in which they carried their revolvers and opened fire. From that moment until Brandt ldy on the ground dying the battle was fast and furious. The second bandit escaped under cover of darkness, firing as he ran, and although the vicinity was closely searched no trace of him could be found. ILL LUCK FOR LUMBERMEN. Sawmill Men Have Twice Had Fatal Explosions, Chippewa Falls, Wis., Aug. 25. — Behnke Bros., whose sawmill at Park Falls last Thursday was the scene of an explosion -which killed one man, were the owners of a sawmill near Holcombe, Chippewa county, which blew up Jan. 22, 1906, and killed sev- en men and wounded a number of others. After the latter residence burned up they went to-Park Falls to run the mill which was destroyed Thursday. Card Player Shot At. Fargo, N. D., Aug. 25.—James Tay- lor, hobo, was brought to jail here, charged with shooting at a companion in Jungles, near Page, this county. The men had been engaged in a game of cards which resulted in a quarrel. Taylor, it is alleged, drew a revolver and fired at his opponent, but his aim was poor. Drowning Is Coroner’s Verdict. Iowa City, Iowa, Aug. 25.—“Death by drowning” is the verdict of Coro- ner Donovan in the case of John Keefer, whose mysterious death kept the police guessing twenty-four hours. Keefer’s, body was found in a boat floating down the Iowa river. Seven Hurt in Auto Wreck. Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 25. — Seven Milwaukee people were injured last evening, one perhaps fatally, when the steering gear of an automobile driven by H. E. King broke near Richfield and the automobile plunged through a barbed wire fence. « Sawmill Is Burned. Stillwater, Minn., Aug. 25. — The Eclipse sawmill at South Stillwater was totally consumed by fire Saturday evening. The loss is $60,000, and the mill cannot be replaced for that, __, HOLD-UP MEN AND ONE BANDIT DEAD; ONE FLEES, , and was dead when the-accident was ect GLAD HAND AT THE CAPITOL by State Officers. : St. Paul, Aug. 21—Minnesota’s mar- ble state house was ablaze with elec- tric lights last evening, the occasion being the state reception to the Na- tional Editorial association. Gov. and Mrs. Johnson were assisted in receiv- ing by the other state officers and their wives. During the evening a program of classical music was rendered by the Minnesota State band. The editors and their friends, fol- ‘owing their formal reception, were | jaken through the palatial building, eye of Nation Received and its magnificent paintings and oth- 2r points of interest were explained oy St. Paul friends guides. who acted as DISBAR ATTORNEY. George W. Egan of Sioux Falls Is on the Rack. Pierre, S. D., Aug. 23.—Papers were filed yesterday in the supreme court in disbarment proceedings against George W. Egan of Sioux Falls, and a hearing will be had on the application on the 2d of September. The charges are preferred by Park Davis, Henry Robertson and A. B. Kittredge, a com- mittee appointed by the Sioux Falls Bar association to .investigate the zase. Egan is the nominee for state’s attorney of Minnehaha county and made a record by his prosecution of the Kaufmann case and became tan- sled in the O’Grady case, in which fraud is charged in the disbarment proceedings. AUTO HITS BUGGY; TWO HURT. Chauffeur Hurries Away, Leaving In- jured to Their Fate. St. Paul, Aug. 21. — Tony Siellzo, fifty years of age, and Albert Kuski, forty-five years of age, farmers living on the White Bear road, while riding in a two-seated buggy on their way home last evening, were struck by an automobile and hurled twenty feet across a field. Siellzo was seriously hurt. Kuski escaped with slight cuts and bruises. The auto drove on without waiting to learn’ what had happened, and by the time the police arrived all trace of the machine and the chauffeur wag lost. PLATFORM COLLAPSES. Accident Occurs While Bryan Is Mak- ing Speech. Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 23.—While Mr. Bryan was speafag at the ball park last evening the temporary plat- form, on which were seated several hundred people collapsed. Nobody was hurt and there was no panic, but Mr. Bryan was interrupted for five min- utes while arrangements were made for him to continue speaking from the grand stand, where he finished his ad- dress. ONE DROWNS; ONE SAVED. Assistant Postmaster Loses Balance When Raising the Anchor. Watertown, S. D., Aug. 23.—Thomas Wiley, for fifteen years a Rock Islan4 railroad conductor and for the past seven years assistant postmaster in this city, a prominent Elk, was drown- ed in Lake Kampeska while fishing Jast evening. In pulling the anchor he lost his balance, capsizing the boat. Arthur Ainsworth, a prominent music dealer, his boat mate, was bare- ly saved by a nine-year-old boy row- ing in the vicinity. BURGLARS AND FOOTPADS. Two Stores Robbed and One Man Held Up at Madelia, Minn. Madelia, Minn., Aug. 23.—Burglars entered the general store of Mullen Bros. and the meat market of George W. Dodge and robbed the cash drawer at both places. f Last night a stranger was held up by two unknown men. He was badly beaten and $29 in money, a watch and chain and other valuables were taken from him. CHILD IS A SUICIDE. Ten-year-old Miss Uses Shotgun With Which to Slay Herself. Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 21.—The ten- year-old daughter of John Stoltz, re- siding ten miles west of Armoua, S. D., committed suicide, using a 40uble-bar- reled shotgun to commit the &s=4. She had evidently contemplated the eed for some time, having made diligent inquiry as to the details. Killed by Freight Car. La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 21. — John Kaiser, aged sixty-five years, was in- stantly killed by being run Over by a freight car in the Milwaukee yards ‘here. Girls Were Not Kidnapped. Racine, Wis., Aug. 23. — The girls who were alleged to have been kidnap- ped from their father’s home at Keno- sha, Gertrude and Dorothy Biehn were found working in Racine homes last night. They said they left home yoluntarily because of family trouble, Fall Into Vault Fatal. Muscatine, Iowa, Aug. 23. — Ellard carl, the six-year-old son of Evan Carl, fell into a vault at Lone Tree “discovered. “ aber PLAN TO FIGHT CATTLE PLAGUE. Conference on Means of Checking Tu- berculosis Heid. Agreeing that steps to eradicate tu- berculosis among the cows of the state would have to be taken gradually, the conference at the old capitol in St. Paul, called to consider this subject, decided that legislation should be sought by which the selling of breed- ing cattle will be prohibited unless they have stood the tuberculin test. It was the unanimous sentiment of the health officials, breeders and dairy- men present that an effort should be made to extend the present work of testing cattle. The method now in use was described as a “ring around the rosy” affair, which got nowhere. There was a general demand for a testing of all the cattle of the state. This, however, would involve the ex- penditure in the next two years of several million dollars, and owing to the absence of interstate regulations about tubercular cattle the state would be helpless to prevent the importation of cows which were diseased. It was urged by W. W. P. McCon- nell, president of the live stock sani- tary board, that the federal govern- ment should have inspectors stationed at transfer points or state boundaries to prevent the shipping of tubercular cattle from one state to another. North Dakota enforces such regula- tions now, and there is a federal law against shipping cattle known to be infected, but the lack of inspection prevents the obtaining of the full bene- fit of the law. A committee was appointed consist- ing of the members of the board, the dairymen’s association, the breeders’ association and the health officers of cities where regulations against tuber- cular cattle are enforced. This com- mittee will attempt to secure legisla- tion agreeable to all parties looking to the extension of the tuberculin test. This committee was instructed spe- cially to attempt to stop the selling of breeding stock without a clean bill of health. A suggestion was made that if it were not possible to inspect all the cattle in the state that the inspection include all herds used for city milk supply, all pure-bred cattl@ and herds near creameries, It is estimated that these three classes, excluding the gen- eral farm herds, would include about 750,000 animals. It may be possible that the present work can be extended so far as to include these classes. Dr. Ward, secretary of the board, was well pleased with the result of the conference, as the ideas of individ- uals interested were obtained. Among those present were President McCon- nell of the board, J. A. Timpane, Dr. C. E. Cotton and M. H. Reynolds of the live stock sanitary board, Prof. Haecker of St. Paul, Dr. M. H. Hall, health officer of Minneapolis; Dr. G. A. Renz, health officer of St. Paul; Dr. B. R. Kirby of St. Paul, Dr. G. E. Leech of Winona, Dr. C. Mickey of St. Paul, Ed Lewis, Mr. Keisler and Mr. Day of Litchfield, R. Crickmore of Owatonna, president of the dairy- men’s association; T. H. Caulfield, Lake Park; J. J. Furlong, Austin; C. Nelson, L. Hoyt and Senator Swanson, Fridley, and G. Stebbing, St. Paul. Senator Swanson was responsible for considerable discussion during the afternoon session concerning the de- tails of test which he wants made to prove that the tuberculin test for cat- tle is what it is claimed to be. He wanted a herd of cattle tested and animals killed which reacted and which did not react to the test. These were to be examined to see if the test is a reliable one. The test may be held, as the board offered to hold it, at any time. Before adjournment the conference agreed that the only way to prevent dairymen from buying infected cattle igs to test all the cows in the state, an impossible project at present. WILL PREVENT OVERFLOWS. Large Area of Farm Land Will Be Benefited by Cut-offs of River. J. A. Schmahl, secretary of state, and George Ralph, state drainage en- gineer, have returned to St. Paul from an inspection of the various cut-offs on the Otter Tail river, in Otter Tail and Wilkin counties. They represent- ed the state drainage board, and found that the work had been performed ac- ceptably on one small piece. These cut-offs will have the effect of ‘} producing a swifter current and wider channel for the river and save 4 vast amount of farm lands from the annual overflows to which they have always been subjected. When the cut-offs are in full operation they are expected to carry off all the surplus water during freshets and floods. TO INSPECT FISHERIES. Members and officers of the state game and fish commission left in the spegial car of the department for an official tour which will include the Deerwood hatchery and the fisheries along the international boundary. The Minnesota authorities with those of other states along the Canadian border are trying to devise some uniform plan of enforcement of the game and fish laws, and the members of the Minnesota commission will make a study of present conditions with that end in view. OVER 5,000 AT FORT RIDGELY. Forty-sixth Anniversary of the Battle Brings Celebrants From All Over. More than 5,000 people assembled Saturday in the grassy amphitheater cast up out of the rugged rock by na- ture at Fort Ridgely to commemorate the forty-sixth anniversary of the last great battle fought in the historic old post with the Indians. Every village and town in Renville county was rep- resented by a heavy delegation, while spectators traveled from all points of the state to witness the celebration. D. W. Moore, who was located on the upper agency at the time of the upris- ing, and who brought the first news to St. Paul of the surviving missionaries, journeyed all the way from Colorado Springs, accompanie: by his wife, to attend the anniversary celebration, and delivered a reminiscent address on the early days. Gen. Bobleter of New Ulm conduct- ed the celebration. Among the speakers were Maj. Ran- dall of Winona, who ran a sutler’s store at the post when the outbreak occurred; Congressman Volstead, Ja- cob F. Jacobson, Republican nominee for governor, and Dennis O’Shay, an old resident of Fairfax and one of the men who went through the early days. Both Congressman Volstead and Mr. Jacobson thought Fort Ridgely should be made a national park, and both said they would work to make it one. The addresses of Maj. Randall and Mr. O’Shay were both reminis- cent. Fort Ridgely is located seven miles southeast of Fairfax, and the entire village turned out for the anniversary celebration. AlD FOR HIGH SCHOOLS. Each Will Be Given $1,400 for Increas- ed Efficiency and Equipment. Five high schools were added to the list of schools to receive state aid by the state high school board at its annual meeting at the capitol in St Paul. There were also ten graded schools added to the list of assisted schools. These schools were recom- mended on account of increases in equipment and efficiency. There were no schools taken from the list. Those high schools to receive aid are: Akeley, Bagley, Biwabik, Sauk Rapids and Tyler. These additions make 206 high schools to receive $1,400 a year each. The graded schools to receive aid in addition to those now on the list are: Odessa, Grand Marais, Rose- mount, Hartland, Champlin, Inter- national Falls, Hendricks, Triumph- Monterey, Aurora and Waverly. This brings the total graded schools in the list to 152. This year they will re- ceive $520 each. This amount is $30 under the regular allowance, and the apportionment for high schools is $100 under the regular amount. The deficit will have to be made up by the legis- Jature. George B. Alton was re-elected high school examiner and S. A. Chalman was continued as graded school exam- iner. PLENTY OF CARS FOR THE CROPS Satifactory Yields Are Reported From the Northwest. The condition of the crops along the Great Northern on the northern division, or between Barnesville, Glyn- don and the Canadian border, is indi- cated by the following close estimates per station, as reported by the com- pany’s local agents: About 2,000,000 bushels remain to be marketed by the Req river valley farmers along the line. A total of thirty-three cars have been ordered and ninety-six cars have been received, while thirty-six cars are loaded and ready for shipments with this year’s grain. This is a total of 165 ears. Seventy-five thousand bushels of grain and flax is estimated to be in storage and 30,000 is estimat- ed to have been shipped. Through the entire summer the freight depart- ment of the Great Northern road has been co-operating with the operating department, with the result that cars fill the sidings at all the stations. Ditch Work Progresses. E. H. Dahlby, who has charge of the work of construction, has begun dig- ging on Ditch No. 16 of Freeborn county, and it begins two and one-half miles south of Albert Lea. The work on the Moscow-Riceland-Geneva ditch is progressing favorably, and the “swamp angel,” the name given the immense dredge boat, is at work where the excavation is fifteen feet in depth and the water twelve feet deep, but this condition will not last long, as the ditch is practically com- pleted through Rice lake, and as the firmer ground is reached the water will be much less in evidence. OLD SETTLERS TO MEET. The Society Will Convene at the State Fair Grounds. William Pitt Murray, president, and A. L. Larpenteur, secretary, of the Old Settlers’ society, composed of men ihat were in Minnesota and twenty- one years of age on New Year's eve of 1849, have called a meeting of their society on the state fair grounds for ‘Thursday, Sopt. 3, at 10 a. m. They urge every “Forty-niner” who has not heretofore enrolled to be pres- ent at the semi-centennial celebration.