The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-13
BOXES
WERE LOOTED
Bank Robbers Carried off Sack Full
of Papers, Some of Which
Were Recovered by
Owners.

BONAPARTE, Nov. 1.-Two or
more safe breakers entered the Farm
ers' and Traders State bank Of Bona
parte on Wednesday night through
the coal hole into the basement and
broke open the vault by the use OF
tools from the Umphrey blacksmith
smop and some powerful explosive
which entirely destroyed the lock and
permitted the bolts to be moved.
The safe in the vault was not
molested, the attention being given
almost entirely to deposit boxes in
which they hoped to find valuables
such as Liberty bonds, etc.
Several Of the boxes were opened,
some by the keys which had been
left in the boxes, others by use Of
sledge and chisel. Many valuable
papers were taken, including deeds,
mortgages, insurance policies, wills,
abstracts, etc. These were evidently
dumped into sacks and carried to the
river bank where they were placed
in boat belonging to William
Weiher. The boat was round the fol-
lowing day on the Missouri side of
the river about two miles from Farm.
ington A sack Of papers was under
the boat. Other papers were found
later lying in the water at the rivers
edge. Several of the depositors re-
covered almost all of their papers in
this way, but most Of the Liberty
bonds are still in the possession Of
the thieves.
Just what the loss m bonds will
be has not been determined, but rhe
registered bonds are not negotiable
and there were not many coupon
bonds sold here. Those who now
own coupon bonds Will probably
have them changed to registered as
soon as possible.
The robbery was first discovered
about $50 a. m, by R. E. Meek who
opened the bank as usual and found
the vault had been blown open. The
sheriff was called and he at once got
busy notifying towns and following
various clues. The boxes also con-
tanned a number Of war savings
stamps, only part OF which were
registered. Mrs. Chapman has sup
ply of registration cards at the post.
office for those who wish to have
their stamps placed out Of reach Of
fire or theft
The papers which were recovered
had been taken from their envelopes
and most of them were quite wet,
some having been in the rain which
came Thursday morning, and others
IN the river.
One thousand four hundred and
fifteen dollars and ninety-seven cents
in silver and small CONS in sacks
and boxes were outside the safe,
there not being room in safe for It.
Seven hundred and thirty-nine dol
lars and forty cents Of this amount
was taken and the remainder LETT on
the floor This loss together with all
damage to vault and fixtures is fully
covered by insurance.
Suspicious characters were seen in
this vicinity on Wednesday evening,
also that night and it IS thought that
at least one of them can readily be
identified If caught
Two young men were hunting in
the woods near where the boat was
found Thursday and they saw two
men, one of whom was standing near
tree and the other lying on the
ground In some high weeds, his head
and body being covered by an over
coat. They saw only his feet, but
they had a good view of the man by
the tree. At that time they had not
learned of the robbery and did not
attempt to learn who the men were
Pain which started to F"ll "hart 7.3G