The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-17
An Unwitting Accomplioe.

I'm the man who lent another man $50
with which to effect robbery, said Col.
Samuel Dick. Of Meadrl,e. Pa. while in the
lobby OF the Fifth avenue hotel the other
night, 20 New York Herald man. And 1t
was great robbery. ---r
Il did not know at the time that l was an
unconscious accessory before the fact con-
| tlnued Col DICK, VINO IS railway magnate of
western pennsylvania. But when the hue
and cry were raised the next day L realized
my share In the transaction.
1t happened during the so-Called oil ex-
citement in Western Pennsylvania. Every
| body recalls the fortunes that were made in
DAY by farmers and oil pTosIeCtOrs. OLD agri-
culturlSts who had been content all their
llVes TO substst on the humDle returns from
their farms. suddenly developed u talent for
making bargains when surface indica tiOns
seemed to point to the presence Of oil in their
land The shrewdest did not sell outright to
royalties.
John Bennington an old German, occu-
ped cottage a few miles from MeadvilIe.
HIS family lived with him ard there they all
staFe Ell While derricks went up in all direc-
lions. and the strong Odor OF coal oil grew al
most unDearahle.
'.Benuinehon feared that banks we're IN
sale places IN which TO leave money. He
kept it in his house in a ridiculous iron safe
which one could carry Of, if he could not
break it open.
"ryeryoody in the neighborhood' knew
toehHlur non Accommodations were in his
mouse Inc TACT was commented upon daily,
ana IL was not uncommon for persons to jocu-
larry inquire, Wei, whom are we going to
ROB old Bennington"
I was accOsted one day by a Young man
named Saeger. who gave me what is now
known as the 'hUrrah touch He came up in
a great hurry and told me a story about need
ing go Immediately. Saeger came from a
SOOu family. but was regarded as a little
Wild 1 was willing to chance $50 on him,
however. and gave him that sum.
me next morning the country side rang
with stories Of the daring robberv which had
been committed the night before. Bennington
vas the victim. He had had stolen from him
the sum of 10000. Thieves had entered the
mousse the night before, ana first binding and
gagglng everybody to prevent an Outcry, had
rlned the iron safe and carried off the Ben
nlnghon fortune.
Everybody knows everybody else in com
minutes like that. and noses were imme-
as were several OH n young men whose pre-
Nous ldlenesS had caused the worthy gossipS
much discomfort.
The testimony Of Mr.. Bennington himself
set at rest any DOUBTS. He kaeW the burglars
ana detained the iccumStan. e5 Of the theft.
S%e2er, ne said. was the leader of the band.A
Inc robbery was well planned and the IA
GlIltleS ICr escape had been prearranged. II
recall the facts accurately one or two of
the thleVes We're caught, ut Seager esca ped.
l telt almost as guilty as he must have felt
Tor soon heard that the SO he had borrowed
from me- ne spent in securing several relays
OF horses to assist in his escape.
SeaEer was never captured. Some wears
atterWari he was located in Texas. The Ben
ntnghoiI heirs found that to prosecute would
cost great deal Of money and they let the
matter drop
And he never paid me back the SO he Dor
roWed, concluded Col Dick.