The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-30
CUSSfN'S CLAIM
GOLD MISSING FROM A SAFE
DEPOSIT BOX
tvAPoRATINd MONEY
A MYSTERY THAT HAS BAFFLED
THE DETECTIVES
1T Is RIDlCULED BY THE BANK
The Officers Certain Such a Robbery
Was Absolutely Impossible.
Cussen's Threats

A very peculiar story was brought to the
attention of the police last week, and though
apparently every attempt has been made
to unravel the affair the circumstances Of
the case are still surrounded with as much
mystery as on the day on which it was first
called to their notice. James Cussen. Of
the undertaking firm of Cussen & Gun
bingham, claims to have been robbed of
$3.50 in gold which he had placed in a safe
deposit vault of the Southern California
Savings bank, on the corner Of Spring and
Court streets. How the money got out Of
the safe deposit vault, or who removed 1t.
Mr. Cussen does not pretend to say, but he
states that he knows one fact sure, and that
IS his money is missing.
According to the statement made by Mr..
Cussen to a Herald representative yester-
day his connection with the banking insti-
tuition dates back to last April. On April
9th Cussen rented a safe deposit box fros~
the Southern California Savings bank. He
was shown into the vault and the methods
of the institution were explained to him.
After this he went to the Los Angeles Ma
tional bank and drew out $1,000 which he
placed in a sack and deposited in his strong
box at the bank. The following day he
withdrew $500 from the California bank.
and, placing this money in a sack put 1t in
the safety box also. Mr.. Cussen had no
occasion to visit the bank after April 9Th,
and not until the 10Th of the present month
did he go to the bank and open the box. To
his CONSERVATION he discovered that the
$500 had been removed, as effectually as
though it had evaporated. He then took
out the balance Of the money, counted 1t.
and saw that $50 had also been taken out of
the sack which had contained the $1,000.
Cussen went to Cashier w. d. Woolwine
and complained about his loss, but to his
statements the cashier, according to th-
statement of Cussen, became very indig-
nant, and resented the imputation that such
an occurrence could have been possible in
the institution. Cussen was referred to
j. A. Braly, the president of the bank, and
explained his loss to that official. Mr..
Brady, he says, could give him no more sat-
isfaction that did Mr.. Woolwine, and he
was finally referred to Arthur Brady, one Of
the tellers. The latter was very courteous.
end talked the matter over with Cussen, but
In the end the latter had to leave the place
without getting much satisfaction.
Cussen reported the case to the police
department and detectives were detailed
to investigate. Cussen accompanied an Of
ficer to the bank. The undertaken asked
that he be shown the slips the bank held
bearing his name, In order to check the
number of times he had visited the place.
1t is customary for the lessee of deposit
box to make out slip every time he visits
the institution, giving the date, hour and
minute of the call Cussen claims that he
had given but four slips since he rented
the box. The first was when he was ini-
tiated into the use of the box; the second
and third were when he deposited his mon
ey, and the last was when he discovered
his loss. If there were more than four
slips, Cussen argued that some person mus;
have forged his name and gained access to
the box Mr.. Braly declined, SO Cussen
claims, to give him this information. What
progress the detectives have made in the
case cannot be stated, but Cussen has
heard nothing further from them. What
steps he will take he has not yet decided
but unless something is done regarding
the matter, he says he may institute action
In the courts against the bank as he is
Is certain beyond peradventure that he de-
posted the several amounts of money he
claims, and, Furthermore, after he made
the second deposit, he tried the door and
went away satisfied that it had been locked
by the young man employed by the bank,
VINO mad accompanied him into the vault.
An official of the bank was seen last
night and said that they had little to say
concerning Mr.. Cussen's claims which to
any one conversant with the relationship
between safe deposit bank and Gus
toner must appear ridiculous. The officers
OF the bank are even anxious that Mr.
Cussen should commence suit, but prefer
to keep silent until he does so. The official
however. was willing to make the follow
ing statement: 1.-THE slips that Cussen COM
plains of were not shown him because of
his aggressive and Incorporate attitude
Cussen Immediately threatened us that he
would expose us in the newspapers, and
to such threat as that we did not care to
respond. Mr.. Cussen's various stories have
been widely divergent. AS soon as the de-
tectives visited the bank we gave them
all the information in our power, showing
them the slips that we had refused Mr..
Cussen on account of his threats"
To anyone familiar with the use of a safe
deposit box, Mr. Cussen's story reads like
fairy story No one could possibly have
access to Mr.. Cussen's box except Mr.
Cussen himself. The bank only holds a
pass key with which the safe deposit box
cannot be opened without the keys held by
the rentor
Undelivered kilograms