The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-29
LOCKED In THE VAULT
CALIFORNIA COUNTY TREASURES
ROBBED or NEARLY $4,000.
Knocked In-ensfbIe by the Thief. and
Imprisoned fn the Place Where
the Money Was Kept.
Il
LIFE SAVED BY HIS WIFE
WHO WENT IN SEARCH OF HER Hus-
HAND IN THE EVENING.
She Alone knew the Com sinatien OF
the Lock, and i'm Her Excitement
Yearly Forgot II.
MISSOURI BANK METHODS
now TWO INSTITUTIONS WE'RE
WRECKED AND LOOTED
Same system Used Which Asii~. the
Little Rock Banker. Employed
scheme for Raising Cash.
She Alone Knew the Com sfnatfon OF
the Lock. and i'm Her Excitement
Yearly Forgot IT.
HOW TWO INSTITUTIONS WE'RE
WRECKED AND LOOTED
Same system Used Which Aiiis. the
Little Rock Banker. Empioyea-
scheme for Raising Cash.

SANTA ROSA. Cal, Dec. 2s.-Santa Rosa
had the biggest sensation In its history
to-day. The county treasury was robbed
OF nearly $500 and County Treasurer Stofen
was left insensible in the vault TO suffer
death b. the robbers, who locked the door
OF the vault on him. The robbery oc-
CURED at . o'clock this norning. but was
not discovered until about O'Clock this art
ernoon. All this time County Treasurer
Stofen lay on the floor OF the vault gaspinS
for breath. fearing every moment during
conscious intervals. would be kis last Had
it not been for the timely arrival Of his
wife, the only person in town who knew
the combination. he would have been dead
She had been at Cloverdaie and on her
return here about 4 o'clock learned the
treasurer had not been home to dinner
The children said they had taken his din
ner to him and left 1t in front OF the Office.
but that they could not get inside.
Mrs. Stofen, suspecting something wrong,
rushed down TO the Office. which is IN the
southern corner of the courthouse and adj
Joining the sherifrs Office. The door was
locked, but with the aid OF the janitor she
opened the door. Between the front part
OF the Office and the treasurers front ONCE n
a wicket gate. This also was locked. Once
inside, Mrs. Stofen found her fears realized.
On one desk was her husbands coat and
hat. On the floor. in confusion, were money
trays. on which the treasurer carried money
from the vault, which Is I'm a rear ofIlce.
TO his desk In the room. About that time
faint knocking was heard inside the
vault. Mrs. Stofen cried out that her hus-
band was in the vault and that she could
save him IL she could remember the COM
bination. The first time she failed owing
to her great excitement Next time, reaiiz-
ing that her husbands Life depended upon
her GOODNESS she was more successful and
the big iron doors OF the vault slowly swung
open. Treasurer Stofen was found the
floor OF the vault unconscious. The safe
door was open and most OF the monfsy
removed.
Treasurer Stofen, as soon as he revived,
said he opened up the Office as usual about
o'clock. AS he was carrying one OF the
trays with money from the vault tau
man in stocking feet stepped into the door
of the vault and, with uplifted dagger IN
his right hand, told him to drop the trays
which he did. AS he stopped over to lay
the trays down the robber struck him a
powerful blow on the back Of the head
which rendered hira unconscious. for how
long he could not tell. He says the man was
| tall and wore chin whiskers and must have
gained admission to the ONCE durfng the
night and waited for him to open the safe
| Officers are securing the country for the
Nrobber but not trace has been found
Onicers say there have been number OF
| hard looking characters In town recently.
| but most of them have been common
tramps. 1t is the belief OF many that the
| job was done by persons living In Santa
Rosa who are familiar with the county Of
| fees and knew just how 10 proceed 10 rob the
| treasury. Owing TO the start the robber
| had the officers think the chances OF finding
| him are rather few. There are many
| theories as TO how the robber got into
| the Office. but the most general belief Is
| that he secured entrance Thursday night
| and hid until the treasurer opened the
| vault and walked into IL.