The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1895-01-04
LOCKED IN A VAULT.
COUNTY TREASURER ROBBED,
a Robber KNOCKS Down Treasurer stofen
A. Santa Rosa, California, Looks Him
In the Safe and Carries on o8,OO0-
6tofen Released After Eight Hours

Santa Rosa, Gala, Dec. 28.-Sant1
Rosa had the biggest sensation In its
history to-day. The county treasury
was robbed Of nearly $1,000 and Coun
" Treasurer Stofen was left insensible
IN tho vault to suffer death by tho rob
bers, who locked tho door Of the vault
on him. The robbery occurred about {
o'clock this morning, but was not dis
covered until about o'clock this after.
noon. All this time County Treasurer
Stolen lay upon the floor Of the vault
gasping for breath, fearing every mo
ment during conscious intervals would
BIO his last. Had 1t not been for the
timely arrival of his wife, the only per
son In town who knew the cOmbina-
ton, he. would have been dead. She
had been at Cloverdale, and on her re-
turn hero about O'Clock learned that
tho treasurer had not been home to
dinner. The children said they had
taken his dinner to him and left ID In
front of the office, but they could not
get In.
Mrs. StOfen, suspecting something
wrong, rushed down to the office,
which Is ON tho south corner of the
court house, and adjoining the sher-
ins office. Tho door was locked, but
with the aid of the janitor she opened
the door. Between the front part Of
tho office and tIeasurer's front office
Is wicket gate. This also was locked.
Once inside, Mrs. Stolen found her
fears realized. On one desk was her
husbands coat aIiA hat. On the floor
In confusion were money trays ON
which the treasurer carried money
from the vault, which Is In rear Of
flee, to his desk In the room. About
that time faint knocking was heard
from inside the vault Mrs. StofeG
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 failed ow-
ing to her great excitement. Next time
realizing that her husbands life de-
pended upon her coOlness, she was sue
cessful and the big iron doors of the
vault slowly swung open.
Treasurer Soften was found on the
floor Of the vault unconscious, the safo
door was open and most OF the money
removed. Treasurer Stofen, as soon rs
he revived, said he opened up the Of
flee as usual about . O'Clock. As he
was carrying out the trays with money
from the vault, tall 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 n
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 wills
kcrs and must have gained admittancc
to tho office during tho night and wait
cd for him to open the safe.
Officers are securing tho country for
tho robpr, but not a trace has been
found.
Officers say there have been num-
Der of hard-looking characters In town
recently, but most OF them have been
common trnmps. 1t is the belief OF
many that the job was done by parties
living in Santa Rosa. who arc familiar
with county offices and knew Just how
to proceed to loot the treasury. Owing
to the start the robber had, officers
think the chances OF finding him are
rather few. There are many theories
as to how the robbcr got Into the Of
flee, but the most general belief is that
no got into the office Thursday night
ind hid until die treasurer opened the
vault and walked Into It