The record-union., 1894-12-29
County Treasury Robbed of a Large
Amount of Money.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE FUNDS
LOCKED IN THE VAULT.
Eight Thousand Dollars the Amount
Sonoma's People Lose - Treasurer
Stofer Nearly Suffocated During the
Many Hours of His Incarceration -
Timely Arrival of his Wife Saves
His Life.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


SANTA Rosa, Dec 28.-Santa Rosa had
the biggest sensation in its history to-
day. The County Treasury was robbed
of nearly $4,000, and County Treasurer
Stolen was left insensible in the vault to
suffocate by the robbers, who locked the
door of the vault on him. The robbery
occurred about o'clock this morning,
but was not discovered until about D
o'clock this evening. All this time he
lay on the floor of the vault gasplng Tor
breath, fearing every moment during
consciousness would be his 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 Cloverdale,
and on her return here about 4 o'clock
learned that the Treasurer had not been
home to dinner. The children said they
had taken his dinner up to him and had
left it in front of the office. but could not
get in.
Mrs. Stofen suspecting something
wrong, rushed down to the office, which
is on the south corner of the Courthouse
and adjoining the Sheri1f's office.
The door was locked, but with
the aid of the Janitor she opened it.
Treasurer Stofen's front office is wicket
gate. This was also locked.
once inside Mrs. Stolen found her fears
realized. On one desk was her husbands
coat and hat. On the floor in confusion
were money trays in which the Treasurer
carries money from the vault. which Is in
a rear office, to his desk in the front room.
About that time a faint knocking was
heard from inside the vault. Mrs. Stoten
cried out that her husband was in the
vault. and that she could save him if she
could remember the combination. The
first time she tried she failed, owing to
her great excitement. The next time.
realizing that her husbands life depended
upon her GOODNESS, she was more sue
cessful, and the big iron doors Of the
vault slowly swung open.
Treasurer Stolen was found on the
floor OF the vault unconscious. The safe
door was open and most of the money
gone.
Treasurer Stofen, soon as he revived,
said he opened up the Office as usual
about o'clock. AS he was carrying out
the trays with money from the vault,
tall man in his stocking feet stepped into
the door OF the vault, and, with uplifted
dagger in his right hands told him TO
drop tue trays, which he did. AS he
stopped over to lay the trays down, the
robber struck him powerful blow on
the back of the head, which rendered
him unconscious, for how long he could
not tell. He says the man was tall and
wore chin whiskers, and must have
gained admittance to the office during the
night and waited for him to open the
safe.
The officers are securing the country
for the robber, but not trace mas been
found.
The officers say there have been num-
Der 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 parties living IN Santa Rosa who
were familiar with the county Offices and
knew just how to proceed to loot the
Treasury.
Owing to the start the robber had the
officers think the chances of finding him
are rather slim. There are many the
ories as 10 how the robber got into the
Office, but the most general belief is that
he got there on Thursday night and hid
until the Treasurer opened the vault and
walked into IL.