Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-31
BURGLARS CAPTURED.

IOl IllOlC Viittl q pet'VJ te iAoAAoSA Va
burglaries and robberies have been commit
ted in this section, including Mecklenburg
county, n. c., York, Chester and Fairfield
counties, in this State, which, for their au-
dacity and the bold and skillful manner of
their execution, induced the belief with
many that gang of regular city cracksmen
had migrated South for the purpose of ply
ing their vocation in the rural districts.
For months past, "the robbers" have beena
source of terror, not to unprotected or lonely
houses in the country merely, but the citi-
Zens of the towns in the counties named
above have been in state of uneasiness at
the prospect of their dwellings or places Of
business being ruthlessly entered and plum
dered in the dead hour of night. 1t is 3
pleasure to know, however, that so far as
concerns the future depredations of one gang
at least, the community may have no fur
ther fears; and what may astonish nlanyis
the fact that the bold robberies recently
committed in Yorkville, Chester, WinEs-
boro and other places, were not conceived
and carried out by professional city looters,
but by native citizens of African descent.
The gang consisted of four persons, three
of whom are now under arrest and in JAIL
viz Jim Gillespie and Henry Lane, in
Jail in Charlotte, N. c.. and Louis Broom
field, who was committed to the Jail in this
place last Thursday, on the charge of bur-
glarously entering the dwelling house of
Mr.. D. M. Faris, in this county, about one
month ago.
By those who knew Broomfield, and were
familiar with his lurking places, he had
been long looked upon with suspicion, and
his arrest, at an earlier date, was prevented
only by his shrewdness in evading those
who were on his trail. But his arrest was
effected on Tuesday of last week, in the fol-
lowing manner, as related by the Rock Hill
Herald:
"On Tuesday last. he appeared at Neely's ferry,
on the Catawba River, about eight miles above
Rock Hill, and was put across the river by Sam
Neely, the colOred ferryman. This was just after
DAYLIGHT Thence he went to the house OF the fer
ryman, situated a short distance from the river,
in Fort Mill township, entered and took seat at
the fire. In q few minutes an old c0l0red man
named Henry p. Potts entered the building and
discovered and spoke to Br0omfeld, whom he
knew WELL The old man at once determined
upon his capture, and after walking carelessly
about the house for Il few minutes he left and set
to work to organize posse. lie soon collected
band of five colored and two white men who
armed themselves with shot-guns and muskets.
Stealthily approaching the ferryman's house they
managed to surround it before Broomtield knew
what was going on Discovering their presence,
however, he ran to the front door with cooked
pistol in his hand, but as he did so Potts leveled
a cooked musket and commanded him to surren-
der. Seeing the old man had the drop on him, he
jumped back into the house, closing the door at
ter him, and ran toward the back door, but dis
covering armed men there Also he pitched his
pistol out into the yard and told them he would
give up. He declined to 60 out of the house,
however without some one accompanying him,
as he was afraid the posse would shoot him. AL
len Weir, colored, finally went in and led him
out, when he was tied and brought to this place
and turned over to the authorities. The posse
presented quite a warlike appearance as they
marched into town with their old muskets and
shot-guns, and it is safe to say that no prouder
band of warriors ever trod our streets. ~
After being taken to Rock Hill, Broom
field made voluntary statement, implica-
ting as the other members of his gang,
jim Gillespie, Henry Lane and Babe Dix
on, and indicated the locality known as
'Logtown," in Charlotte, where they might
be found The authorities in that city
were Immediately notified, and acting on
the clue thus furnished by the officers at
Rock Hill, they had no difficulty in find
ing two of the men-Gillespie and Lane
and large quantity Of stolen goods secret
ed in the house named by Broomtield in
his statement.
On Saturday last a representive OF the
ENQUIRER, in company with the Sheriff,
visited Broomfeld in the Jail and asked
for an interview. He readily presented
himself at the Sheriff's summons, and
the reporter was somewhat surprised at
seeing, not vicious, savage looking negro
of middle age, but to the contrary, a rather
intelligent young man Of only tWenty-three
years-one young in age, but old in crime.
The reporter frankly told Broomfield that
he had come to interview him, and that
whatever statement he might make would
be published; and that he could exercise
his own free will in regard to giving state
ment for publication.
'You mean a full history of my life ~
asked the prisoner; 'that would take too
long"
On being assured that we wanted only a
few of the more interesting episodes IN his
career, he proceeded to say that he is now
twenty-three years old. He was born in
Ebenezer, in this county, and his mother
was slave of Thomas Thomasson. Broom
field is of dark copper color and about five
feet ten inches high, of intelligent mien and
can read and write. He narrates his eXpe-
rience in this world very nearly in the
same nonchalant manner that traveller
would relate his obervations on an EXTEND |