The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-22
Famous Handwriting Expert
Goes TO Salt Lake TO Investi-
gate Mysterious Forgery
Vaults of Utah National Bank
Robbed of SI06,z50 With
out Single CIew Left
But Five Men Know COmbina-
ton of Big Safe, Yet None
Is Held Responsible
Exposure of Steal Bares Exist
ence of Bitter fractional Fight
Within Institution

After working quietly for several
weeks on various samples of hand
writing evidence turned over to him
BY the federal authorities, Theodore
Kytka, the handwriting expert of this
city, has been called to Salt Lake
City to assist in solving the mystery
of the unexplained disappearance of
Slo6,000 from the vaults of the Utah
national bank of that city. Kytka left
Saturday night on his investigation,
in which he will be called upon to dis
play all Of his extraordinary aptitude
as an expert OF handwriting.
A federal grand jury is at present
investigating the case, and it is pos
sible that Kytka viii be called before
it to give testimony. The jury has
been hearing evidence in the case for
nearly two months, and is expected to
make its report this week Kytka's
connection with the matter. 1t is un-
derstood. has been that of examining
Tninutely the handwriting Of various
letters and papers, as well as the hand
writing OF every employe IN the bank
FIVE IN SECRET
One OF the peculiar features of the
robbery was that only hve men were
supposed 10 have known the combina-
tion Of the vault from which the money
was distracted. all of them having been
employees Of the bank either before or
at the time when the robbery occurred
Although suspicion has not been di-
rectly attracted TO any Of these men,
nevertheless a very rigid investigation
has been instituted by the federal
authorities, who took charge of the
case at the special request Of Bank Ex-
aminer Beattie.
The fact that sIos.25o had disap-
pesred from the bank vaults first be-
came known in January Owing to a
peculiar combination of politics and
personal animosity existing among the
bank officials the matter has appeared
more than ordinarily complicated.
In 1907 W. S. Mccormick, q wealthy
banker. bought control of the Utah na-
tional, which previously had been known
as the Mormon bank T. Augustus
Heinze became interested at the same
time. In the change of ownership W.
F. Adams. g Gentle, was made man
ager, though Joseph Nelson, a son in
law Of President Joseph F. Smith of the
Mormon church, was retained as CASH
ier.
That the combination TO the reserve
chest in the vault had been changed
became known January 8, and exam
snation revealed the disappearance of
the sl0625o It developed that five men
had known the combination and that
others might have gained the informa-
ton.
When the fact of the robbery was
made public several weeks after the
crime the existence of bitter fac
tlonal fight in the bank between Adams
on one side and Nelson and his ad-
herents on the other developed. Charges
snd counter charges, more or less spe-
oi5c, have been made by both factions.
After unsuccessful efforts to solve
the mystery the federal authorities
have obtained the services OF Kytka,
who, 81 is stated, has already been able
10 throw much light on he matter
through his Investigations.