Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-01
Daring Burglary.

Some time on Thursday morning, at what
hour it is impossible to tell, the office Of our
county Treasurer was entered and robbed Of
eight thousand four hundred and twcnty-one
dollars and twenty five ccntS-SG, S93 belong
ing to tho State fund, $500 25 to the county
fund, and 81 ,llS TO private individuals Mr..
Park, the Treasurer, was sleeping in the Office
at the time, and circumstances justify and
confirm the belief that clIloroform was admin
istered to him in some manner before the en-
try was effected. The Office is in the lower
part Of the Court House, nh unsafe place
The Office in the rear opens on porch, with
glass door, unprotected by shutters. An en-
try was effected by cutting the putty, which
was quite soft and could be cut without ma
king the slightest noise, and removing the
glass. The lock on the door turns noiSlcssly,
so much so that persons standing near it can
not hear the slightest sound by turning the
key. The pane of glass Immediately above
the lock was removed, the key turned and the
door opened.
Early on Thursday evening Mr. Park went
to the Office, built fire and read about an
hour, when he dropped to sleep on a sofa near
the stove. lie slept but a short time. Soon
after waking he prepared to go to bed, and
while undressing he heard some one walking
on tire porch, not an unusual occurrence. lie
stepped to tho window parted the curtains
and loUkcd out, and saw man descending the
steps into an adjoining yard, where some
horses, belonging to transfers, were feeding.
Surprising it to be tcamstcr, he gave the
matter no further thought. Throwing the key
Of the safe under his pillow, and placing his
pistol in his bed he blew out the light and
jumped into bed. A quarter after seven
Thursday morning DR.. Dcvant, who sleeps in nm
adjoining room, observing some broken glass
living near the door of the Trcasurcr's Office,
stepped to the door and discovered that
whole pane had been removed. Suspecting
something wrong, he called Mr.. Park twice,
and receiving no answer, pushed slightly
against the door which yielded to his touch.
On entering he found the pistol of Mr.. Park
lying on desk near the door. He stepped
to the bed and loudly called Mr.. P. twice re-
ceiving no answer and fearing the worst, he
took hold of him and shook him little rough.
". II was sometime before he succeeded in
arousing Mr.. p, and when he did so it was
difficult to shake off his drowsincss. DR.. D.
then explained how and why he got into the
Office, and also his suspicious. Mr.. p lcapcd
from his bed, looked for his keys, and pcrceiv-
ing they were gone, hastily advanced to the
safe and discovered that it had been opened
and the money taken from it. 1t was terri
bic shock to our worthy Treasurer, whose
term of office expires on Monday next but
fortunately he bears character above suspi
cion, a reputation as pure and unsullied as any
man in California. Even partisan malignity
has never dared to breath word derogatory
20 his character. OF Aaron D. Park it can
truthfnlly be said
81 Ills honor 10 his life both grow in one
Take honor from him, and his life is DONE"
Evidently the burglary was committed by
one acquainted with the Office, but suspicion
rests upon no one Not the slightest clue has
been discovered that may lead to the detection
Of che burglar.