The herald., 1894-12-29
A COUNTY HERBRY LOOTED,
Daring Work of.A Robber al
Santa Rosa.
Custodian Of the CQiu Left in the
Vault toHDie.
Amount yef. Money daeursd Placed ~
S8oo0-rhs Treasursr's Wife Res.
cuss Her Husband.

by The HERALD's Leased Wire.
SANTA Rosa, CAL, Dec. 2S.-SAnta
Rosa had the biggest sensation in its
history today. The county treasury
was robbed Of nearly $4,000 and County
Treasurer Stolen was left insensible in
the vault to suffocats by the robbers,
who locked the door of the vault on
him. The robbery occurred about
O'Clock this morning. but was not dis
covered until about O'Clock this alter
noon. All this time Treasurer Steien
lay on the floor Of the vault gasping for
breath, fearing every moment during
conscious intervals would be his last.
Had it not bsen 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 Clover
dale. 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 left it in front of the Office, but
that they could not set in.
RESCUED FROM THE VAULT.
Mrs. Stolen, suapecting something
wrong, went down to the Office, which IL
in the south corner of the court house
and adjoining the sheriff's Office. The
door was locked, but by the aid of the
janitor she opened the door. Between
the front part Of the Office and Treasurer
Stofen's front Office is q wicket gate.
This was also locked. Once inside Mrs.
Stolen found her fears realized. On one
desk was her husbands coat and hat.
IN ho IN
trays in which the treasurer carried
office, to his desk in the front room. About
that time q faint knocking was heard
from inside the vault. Mrs. Stolen
cried out that her husband Was in the
vault and that she could save him II
she could remember the combination.
The first time she tried she tailed,
owing to her great excitement. The
next time, realizing that her husbands
life depended upon her ooolness. che
was more successful and the big iron
doors of the vault slowtly swung open.
Treasurer Stolen WAS found on the
floor of the vault unconscious. The
safe door was open and most of the
money gone.
A ROBBER WITH DAGGER.
1IohouIoI CtOions % USoA - ~ To-
vived, said he opened up the, Office %
usual about O'Clock. ANhs WAS carry
ing out the trays with money from the
vault. tall man In stocking fest stepped
into the door of the vault, and, with up.
lifted dagger in his right hand. told him
to drop the trays, which he did. As he
stopped over to lay the trays down, the
robbers struck him q 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 awaited for him to open
the safe.
Officers say there have been . number
OF hard looking characters in town 70.
Gently, but most Of them have been
common tramps. IL is the belief of
many that the job was done by parties
living in Santa Rosa who were familiar
with the county offices and who knew
just how to proceed to loot the treasury.
Owing to the start the robber had ON
GERS think the chances of finding him
are rather few. There are many the
cries as to how the robber got into the
Office. but the most general belief 10 that
he got into the Office Thursday night
and hid until the treasurer opened the
vault, and walked into it.