The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-08
NO POLICE PROTECTION
PROVIDED IN NEW TOWN
President F. E. McGurrin Blames
Authorities, but Thinks that
Shafer Was Careless
Special to The Tribune.


TOOELE CITY, June 7.-Onc
OF the most carefully planned and
successful bank robberies ever
committed In Utah took place 1T
the Tooele Commercial bank, in
the new town of Tooele. this after
noon at 8 80 o'clock. The rob
berry was committed by two
masked men, who entered the
bank just as the cashier, $. |.
Shafer, was preparing to lock the
vault. They held him up at the
point of gun, bound, gagged
and chloroformed him, placed him
in a lavatory and then leisurely
rified the bank. obtaining some
whore between $4,000 and $4,000.
Bandits Escape
While being gagged by one of the
bandits, the cashier tainted and knew
nothing more until he was released
from his bonds and revived by Joseph
Baluff and Robert II. Page nearly two
hours later. That. Mr.. Shafer tainted
is attributed TO the fact that he re-
Gently underwent delicate surgical
operation in Salt Lake City and has
since been far from well
Opinions differ as to the movements
of the bandits after they left the bank
Rumors were rife after the robbery
was discovered that two men on horse
back were seen riding rapidly in the
direction of Pine canyon. u wild sec
tion of country between Tooele and
Bingham, and officers at Bingham, Gar
field, Stockton and other points were
notified to be on the lookout for the
robbers. Well-versed Tooele residents
are of the opinion that the robbers are
residents of Tooele and that they have
not left the town,
After the two bandits had robbed the
bank they went out the front door.
closing it after them. and, as the
cashier is often out late in the after.
noon, nothing was thought of the fact
that the door was closed
The robbery was not discovered un-
Ill more than nm hour and half after
it had been committed. AT ;05 o'clock
Robert Fl. Page went to the bank to
see the cashier on q business matter.
Page found the door closed, but tried
it and it swung open. He stepped In
side, but saw no one. He theE stepped
ont upon the street, where he en-
countered Joseph Baluff, who is con-
nected with the Tooele Townsite com
pany.
Page asked Baluf if he had seen
Cashier, Shafer, adding that the door
of the bank was open, but that he did
not see Shafer when he entered the
building. Baluf replied that he had
not seen the cashier for some hours,
but suggested, in view of the fact that
the bank door was open, that they
make an investigation,
Find Shafer Bound
Both men then entered the bank
and called for Shafer, but there was
no reply. They noticed, however, that
the vault doors were open and that
the bank had the appearance of not
having been closed. They then began
thorough investigation. Going TO
the door of lavatory. which leads
off tho main room of the bank build
ing. they Knocked. There was no an
swer, but they heard groan and,
opening the door. they found Cashier
Shafcr, bound and gagged on the floor,
The cashier was unconscious and nearly !
dead
His hands were pinned together be-
hind his back with wire, his feet also
were pinned together with wire and u
wire had been run from his feet to
his hands, drawing them close together.
In addition, he was gagged securely |
while a heavy cloth had been closely |
around his face and head and !
tightly under the chin.
The rescuers are of the opinion that
they detected the odor of chloroform
AS quickly as possible Baluff and
Page released the cashier from his
bonds and took him to the afr.
1t was fully twenty minutes
after being released from hi. painful
position that Cashier Shafer was able