The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-27
ACCIDENT PREVENTS THE GREATEST
ROBBERY in HISTORY OF THE COAST
ChanceVisit Saves Hundreds
of Thousands of Dollars
to Patrons of Local Safe
ty Deposit Vaults.

Seattle suffered from a carni.
val Of burglary Saturday and
Sunday nights, plainly indicat.
ing that the police department
is unable to identify and round
up the criminal element of the
population.
But for the merest accident
trained safe blowers would
have been able to perpetrste
the biggest robbery in the his
tory of the Pacific coast last
night, and long list Of bur-
glaries. committed Saturday
and Sunday nights, which have
not been followed by arrests,
completes the proof that the
police have no knowledge OF
control Of the criminal popula-
ton.
The fresh outbreak OF bur-
glary indicates that Seattle has
become the target of newly ar
rived criminals who have come
unheralded from other cities,
and are likely to operate un-
hanpered unless chance leads
to their detection and capture.
After gaining entrance to the IN
side corridors OF the Seattle Safe
Deposit Co. al 70l First av., and
placing q heavy charge OF nitro
giycerine In the door leading 10 the
inner vault where money and waltz
ables 10 the value OF more than
81 GOO 600 are stored. burglars were
prevented from making one Of the
richest hauls IN the history of crime
only by the accidental attempt Of
Manager A. j. Elwell 10 enter the
vaults at o'clock last night
He entered the building through
the front door and unlocked the
door 10 the corridor leading 10 the
safety deposit vaults lie could not
open the door. however, as II was
braced shut with heavy timbers.
AT once surmislng that burglars
We're inside. be ran out onto First
av and around TO Tesler way, where
he notified Patrolmen +. w. Blacker
and Frank Keefe. With drawn re-
wolvers. they ran 10 the rear en-
trance TO the safe deposit vaults at
Post St and entered the building.
A thorough search was made, but
the burglars had fed.
Surprised at the Job.
The thieves were evidently sur
prised In. the middle of their Job,
for in their haste TO flee they left
all their tools and a suit case con-
tanning silverware valued az $3.50.
The police found empty jewel
cases. sealskin wraps. furs. pieces
OF silk. insurance papers and deeds
covering the floor of the corridors.
The thieves had rifled several
trunks and cases in the outer vaults
i'm a search for loot.
Only the barest accident prevent.
ed the robbery. Edward Bastheim,
representing al Judis & Co. of San
Francisco. 1ewelry dealers. had
trunks containing SO, 600 worth Of
jewels In the vaults. He received
rush orders 10 leave the city last
night and called up Manager Elwell
TO get his trunks.
Manager Elwell took his keys and
az once went to the building, while
flr Bastheim telephoned an express.
man 10 call at the rear door. II the
had been there when
the burglars were alarmed. some
shooting might have resulted
Chief Wards Theories.
Chief OF Police Ward believes the
burglars were professionals who fol-
lowed Mr. Bastheim here from Port
land. They knew he had trunks con-
tanning valuable jewels and they
found out where they were located
and then made their plans 20 rifle
the safe deposit vaults
The amount Of the burglars haul
is unknown. They got s400 in cash
which was In a cash drawer outside
the vault OF this amount 5000 be-
longed 20 the Rainier Laundry Co.
Il is probable that the burglars got
away with iewelry valued al several
thousand dollars.
When the police entered the cor
ridor leading to the vault they found
about 30 broken and empty Jewel
cases on the floor People do not
put empty jewel cases In safety de-
post vaults. These cases contained
Jewels, but the actual loss will not
be known until the owners call to
claim their goods. The loss may
total several thousand dollars.
In their haste TO get away the
burglars also left suit case fun OF
solid silver valued at $3.50
Work Of Experts.
The Job was planned and executed
IN a daring and worlmanlike man
ner that stamps the robbers as pro-
fesslOnal cracksmen OF long expert
ance. The thieves, probably three
In number, entered the safety de-
nosit vault through window open
ing ON vacant room that opens on
Post st. The police believe that
these men were hidden IN this room
Saturday night The roam contains
(Censlnaied en- nase 6.)