Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-08
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, June 5, 1876.


These are times when crime stalks through.
out the land. Almost every newspaper con.
tains an account of murder, burglary, a
robbery, or one of the various kinds Of crime.
And no place appears to escape the villains
presence. Chester has been afflicted with her
share of rascals, and, as the chronicler of pas
sing events, it has been my duty frequently
| to inform the public Of their bold operations.
This duty is again to be discharged in giving
an account of burglary committed in our
town on last Monday night. The perpetrator
was colored man, name unknown, and the
scene of the outrageous act was MIR. George
Heyman's residence, near the depot. He
effected an entrance on the second floor Of
the dwelling by the assistance of a ladder.
Making his way through the private apart
ments of this floor, he was descending, with
lighted lamp, the flight of steps leading to
the store on the first floor, when his expecta-
tions of plunder were suddenly disappointed,
and he was compelled to beat hasty retreat.
The watchman at the depot, supposing, from
the lighted appearance of the house, that
some member Of the family was sick, went to
the front door which he found unlocked, and
opening it, made some inquiry in regard to
the supposed sickness of the household. The
burglar, who was on the steps with lighted
lamp, replied that some one was sick, but
upon the watchman proceeding to enter the
house, ran, and was Immediately fired upon
by the watchman. The ball passed short
distance over the head of the rascal, who,
Fastening his steps. retreated from the house
in the same way that he had entered it, with
this difference, that in making his exit he
dispensed, for the most part, with the use of
the ladder. When he leaped upon the ground
he made rapid tracks in an easterly direction
and disappeared. The burglar, in his haste
to adopt that measure that promised to save
his neck, left his shoes, which may furnish a
clue to his detection. The watchman is not
without suspicion of the perpetrator of the
bold act, and, consequently, the prospect of
his discovery, conviction, and punishment, is
at present very good.
On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the
Chester Rifle Club took place, at which it
was determined to take action in reference to
obtaining the assistance of the ladies in Sc
curing uniform for the company. On the
previous day some of the lady friends Of
the corps assembled, and talked over the
matter, but arrived at no definite conclusion.
Upon the question of uniforming the club
the members are not entirely Of one mind.
Some are of the opinion that the money strin-
gency is too great to admit of an investment
of this character, while others contend that
sufficient amount of money can be raised by
subscription, and the bel of the ladies, who
are expected to give concerts and ice.cream
festivals, to supply any want Of the needful
occasioned by the poverty Of the members l
suppose there is no doubt of the hearty co.
operation of the ladies with the members Of
the Club in the matter of raising money to
buy uniforms.
The Rifle Club has been armed with State
guns by the permission of Governor Chamber
lain. C.S. Brice, Esq, President of the club,
gave his promise to the Governor to allow no
improper or illegal use of the guns. The COL
ored company at this place made an effort to
get the same guns, but the Governor declined
compliance with their request, for the reason
that he had already favorably entertained the
application of the Rife Club,
On Wednesday case of more than ordina.
ry interest was tried before Trial Justice San
ders The defendant, j. G. Johnston, colored,
was charged with stealing COW from Henry
Harden, also colored. The case was heard in
the Court House for the accommodation Of
the crowd who desired to be present during
the trial. Harden, upon being sworn, testified
to his having found his COW in the possession
of the defendant. Butler Sanders also color
ed, testified to his having assisted the defen-
dant in driving the COW, for which service he
received twenty-five cents. Mr.. John Smith,
an elderly gentleman who lives in the neigh
borhood of Baton Rouge, testified to meeting
the defendant in the public road with COW,
and to telling him that the cow was the prop
erty of Henry Harden. The defendant, upon
taking the stand, swore to buying the cow
from Butler Sanders, for which he had given
five dollars; also swore to meeting Mr.. Smith
in the road, and to telling him that if the cow,
which he was driving, belonged to Henry
Harden, he would keep it in his possession
until called for and identified by the owner !;