The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-29

Santa Rosa, Cals Dec. "a, Santa Rosa
had the biggest sensation In its history
today. The country treasury was
robbed of nearly $1,000 and County
Treasurer Stofen was left ansensibie in
the vault to SURROGATE by the robbers
who locked the door Of the vault on
him.
The robbery occurred about 8 o'clock
this morning but was not discovered
Until o'clock this afternoon. All this
time County Treasurer Stofen lay on
the floor Of the vault gasping for
breath, fearing every moment during
conscious intervals it 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
Cloverdaie and on her return here about
a o'clock learned that the treasurer
had not been home to dinner. The
children said they had taken his dinner
to him and left 1t in front OF the office
but that they could not get in. Mrs.
Stolen suspecting something wrong,
rushed down to the Office, which is on
the south corner of the courthouse and
adjoining the sheriff's Office. The door
was locked but with the aid of the
janitor she opened the door. Between
the front part of the Office and treas
urer'S front office Is a. wicket gate.
This also was 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 on which the treasurer
carried money from the vault, which
is in a rear Office. to his desk in the
front room.
About that time 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 if she could remember the conGbina-
ton. The first time she tried she failed
owing to her great excitement Next
time, realizing that her husbands life
depended upon her GOODNESS, she was
more successful 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
removed.
Treasurer Stofen, as soon as he re-
vived, said he opened up the office as
usual about 8 o'clock. AS he was carry
ing out the trays with money from the
vault, a tall man in stocking feet
stepped into the door Of the vault and
Win untitled Jaeger IN MS Tlgnt 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 him unconscious for
how long he could not tell. He says
the man was tall and wore chin
whiskers and must have gained ad-
mittance TO the Office during the night
and waited for him to open the safe.
Officers are securing the country for
the robber but not a trace has been
found.
Officers say there have been a 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 par
ties 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 rob-
bers had, the officers think the chances
of finding them are rather few. There
are many theories as to how the rob-
Der got into the office, but the most
general belief is that he got into the
office Thursday night and hid until the
treasurer opened the vault and walked
into it.