The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-30
WHITE CAPS IN LAUHESS.
A Story OF Regulators, Arson and "a Bogus
Detective.
News and Courier.

COLUMBIA, Jan. 22.-The bogus
Detective" tale, wakes more and more
exciting as it is unfolded.
w. II. Workman and \. p. Whit
mire are well-to-do farmers, living in
Laurens County, nearKinard's station.
For u long time certain white men,
living in the same neighborhood, had
been disregarding the statute for5iding
the intermarriage of the races, so re-
form society was formed with Mr..
Whitmire as president and Mr.. Work
man, one Of the leaders, to regulate"
their waywald neighbors. No sooner
had the society begun its work than
Mr.. Workman's valuable barn was set
fire to and burned, and on the very
next night. during last May, Mr..
Whitmire's dwelling house was burned
in the same way.
Mr.. Workman suspected certain
persons of having connection with the
incendiarism, and so applied to a pre-
tended friend of his in NeWberry for
advice as to reliable detective agen-
cy. This party referred him with
lavish recommendations to Mr.. John
Y. James, Wilkinson's Southern De-
tective Agency, Mr. Workman, never
suspected foul play. wrote to James
and received a reply asking for check
of $3.50 to come to LaurenS and begin
work on.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Workman
sent the check and James met him at
Columbia and pretended to know just
how to "pipen u case. After some par
leying and getting additional funds
James went to Newberry, leaving his
hotel bill here unpaid, and there sue
ceeded in defrauding numerous un-
wary persons. The latter part of last
week the bogus detective came to Co.
lumbia and wrote Workman that he
had to have $3.50 more to carry out his
plans, or he would drop the case en-
tirely. The letter was written so as to
reach Mr.. Workman last Monday afte;-
noon; but James took the midday train
for the North, and when the answer
came he was not to be found.
AS before stated, Mr.. Workman and
Ex-Chief of Police Chappell, of New
berry, came down yesterday, and
Chief Graham telegraphed to Dan
Vile and Richmond to have James al
rested. Early this morning the chief
received a message from Detective Jack
Wren, Of Richmond, saying that he
had the. culprit in prison. a little
latec, however, another message was
received from Wren, saying that the
police judge had released the prisoner
as the charges against him were not
known by the detective there. Chief
Graham Immediately wired an account
of the charges preferred against James,
and requested the chief Of police of
Richmond to recapture him and hold
him until sent for.
Inspector Byrnes, Of New York, tel
esraphed Chris Graham this morning
that James had no connection with
the Wilkinson agency In New York.
\ curious and rather amusing incl
dent connected with the affair is that
James will, in all probability, he
brought back with his own handouts.
He left fine pair in Mr.. Workman's g
possession, and by special request Mr..
Chappell will bring James back, if at
all, with his own bracelets.
1t is thought that there is completely
between all the parties connected with
the burning and the subsequent swim
die; that the same persons who did the
burning helped to secure a bogus de-
tective, and that the whole affair from
beginning to end is put up jobon the
part of certain of the regulated"
farmers.
HOW THE SWINDLING DETECTIVE GOT