The herald., 1894-10-27
A MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY
SAFE DEPOSIT VAULTS LOOTED
IN OMAHA.
Bank Officials and Detectives Unable
to Account for the Manner
in Which tho Money
Disappeared.

OMAHA, Dot. 26.-The fact was made
public today that the safe deposit vaults
section OF the Omaha National bank
had been robbed and in 30 dexterous a
manner that no clue to the manner in
which the work was done is obtsinable.
Large sums of money have been taken
from boxes in the vaults, and the exact
amount OF the losses cannot be known
until all have been examined. The dis
covery was made more than two weeks
ago, and every precaution has been
taken by the bank officials to
keep the matter close secret.
Chief of Police Seavey and one
Of his detectives have been working
industriouly upon the case. and ]. h.
Millard, president of the Omaha Ma
tional. has given the largest share of his
time since the discovery, to an effort to
unfavel the mystery surrounding the
case. He has even made q trip to
Chicago for the purpose of making q
special investigation into the workings
OF the safety deposit systems of that
city. to discover, if possible, whether
any important precautionary measures
had been neglected in the Omaha vault
system.
The principal loser is William Glad
ish. Mr.. Gladish has been lessee of a
box in the vaults Of the Omaha National
bank for a number OF years. Last
March he placed in his box the sum Of
$27O0 in gold. On October 9th he dis.
covered that about $1,000 was missing.
He at once notified Mr.. Millard and th Q
investigation was commenced. Mr..
Millard called in Chief of Police Seavey
and detectives have had charge ever
since. So far, however, all efforts to
discover the manner in which the
money WAS Lost have failed, and the
bank authorities. as we'll as the police,
are as much in the dark as ever.
The discovery of the losses over
whelmed the Omaha National bank Off
cials with psrplexity. They place every
reliance upon all the parties who have
any connection with the management of
the vaults, and are thoroughly in the
dark 40 to how the losses could have
occurred. Another party reports that
three 500 bills have been taken from his
box.
President Millard states that the news
of the losses comes to him aa one OF the
surprises of his life. The vaults are un-
der the management of very estimable
lady, who is in every way fitted for the
responsible position che occupies. No
suspicion exists that the Losses have oc-
Cured through her knowledge or con-
nivance. The safety vaults are in the
basement of the Omaha National bank
building. near the corner of Thirteenth
and Douglass streets. They are mod
eled after the best systems in the coun-
try. and the private boxes are surround
ed with every safeguard that ingenuity
OF science can devise.
The lessee OF a private box is first
required to write his signature in book
and also upon card. together with his
residence, etc. He 10 then given q
private password, and no two individuals
have the same password. 1t is suggested
that person not entitled to
open any given box may secure
possession OF the keys eurreptitlous.
ly. But the possession OF the
keys alone will not enable stranger to
open box. He must, upon presenting
himself at the safety vault, present al
the same time a written erder signed by
the owner of the box, and he must also
give the private password. The bank
officials or detectives offer no explana-
ton other than the declaration that /,
10 not due to the carelessness of the bank
employees. All deposits are guaranteed
by the bank,