The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-04-27

building, and policemen in the cons
fidepce of the Ring were stationed
outside. for the double purpose of
preventing interruption and of fol-
lowing the burglars to Mr.. Alexan-
der's house when they should have
obtained the books. The safe was
blown open, sham set of books taken
out, and with these the burglars pro-
ceeded toward Mr.. Alexander's
house, followed at short distance by
the policemen, ready to pounce upon
Mr.. Alexander at the critical mo
ment, and to conveniently suffer the
burglars to escape after having iden-
tilted them.
A DRoLL INCIDENT.
happened on the way. The time was
| o'clock at night. The burglars,
carrying the sham books had forgot
ten the number of Mr., Alexander's
house; and aftor wandering past it,
and when about to ring the bell OF
the wrong house, the police, sup
posed to be in vigorous pursuit of
them, had actually to call them and
direct them to the right house! Ar
rived there they rang the bell, but
in vain. Mr.. Alexander, thinking
little or nothing of the proposed de-
livery of the books, and at any rate
determined to take no notice of irre-
gular proceedings with which he
would have nothing to do, had gone
to bed at his usual hour. The bell
had wakened no one in the house,
The burglars and the sham police
we're both IerplcXed; the area bell
was rnng with no better success; aad
finally, after consultation between
the burglars and the police, he whole
party d,campcd. The next day
Washington was excited by the re.
port that a most daring burglary
had been committed and the safe
blown mp in District Attorney Har-
ringtor's office, and all means were
used to show that the prosecutors OF
the Ring had been guilty of this
crime. But after while
THE TRUE STORY LEAKED OUT,
and several of the actors in it were pro
secuted; but always unsuccessfully
And no wonder, for the chiefs in this
conspiracy had very powerful friends
and moreover the conspiracy had
been very shrewdly managed so as
to conceal the chiefs from tile knowl-
edge of the subordinates in such q
way that but two confidential agents
knew who were the real authors OF
tie plot At last, however, by the
persistent efforts of Mr.. Alexander
and others, Harrington, the district
attorney, particular friend of Shep
herd and Babcock, and an intimate
ut the White House, was indicted
and brought to trial. The case agains
him had been confided to Mr.. A. G
Riddle as assistant attorney general
and Mr.. Riddle, who had received
his appointment because he wa
known to be tho parSonal friend o
some OF the Ring, but who happened
to be an honest and incorruptibl,
lawyer, WAS about to convict Har-
rington, when the public was as
founded first to see Harrington, then
under trial for a felony and pris-
oner on bail, conspicuously
INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE,
where he appeared as a welcome ant
favored guest, and second, Mr.. Rid
die suddenly, and for no reason, re-
moved from his post Of prosecuting
attorney. Thereupon the trial broke
down. Bnt the general conviction O
Harrington's guilt was go strong tha
the Ring, who had used this veal
young man, now found it necessary
to drop him, and he drifted back t.
his home in Delaware and into OBJ
scurity. The prosecution, long baf
fed, was not dropped; but conven