Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1894-02-16
COAL DISCOVERED.
Coal Found in Paying Quantities at
BrOOkings, y. ID.
The Nights of Labor Have u Hand in
the Deal.

near this city and when it had been
proven that the precious metal was
not to be secured in paying quantities
the cnterprising spectators turned
.heir attention to ''lCcatIng'' coal.
On several occasions the report has
been issued that someone had found
coal in well or while cXcavating for
a cellar. The leads did not prove
''rich' however. and the excitement
died out.
Last Saturday night it was noised
about that Agent n. E. Carnine and
his assistant at the depot, Ed. Davis,
had at last struck rich lead" in
coal. The REGISTER at once dis
patched representative to the
scene of action and gathered the fol-
lowing from the parties "interested:"
1t seems that tor some time Mr..
Carnine has realized that coal was be-
ing taken in paying quantities from
the Northwestern R'y company at
this station and he had several parties
spotted. Last Friday night several
tons were taken from 'gondola' on
the side track and on Saturday Mr..
Davis was sent out on prospecting"
tour. In a flax straw stack at the
rear of r. Brink's livery barn he dis
covered" coal and reported the lOca
ton. That evening about s o'clock
Mr. Carnine and Deputy Sheriff Com
stock stationed themselves near the
straw stack and awaited "develOp-
mentS of the mine" In very short
time team was driven up and two
men began ''bringing the coal to the
surface" and loading it in their sleigh.
The officer stepped out and arrested
and took them to Philo Halls Office.
Warrants were then issued for the ar
rest of r. Brink. Sam. Pittinger and
Tim Barton. Armed with these doc
uments and with a search warrant
Sheriffs Hawley and COmstock re-
turned to the livery barn. Arrested
Brink and Pittinger and dmade search
in the barn which latter proved to be
a good act. inaSmuch as more coal was
"located" in an unOccupied manger
and stall. Brink gave bonds for his
appearance and was released until
Monday on plea of illness. Barton
was found at A. \. Pools and taken
in" by the deputy sheriff. On Mon
day Barton, Pittinger and White
plead guilty and were fined $40 and
costs and thirty days in Jail. Smith
demanded jury trial and the same
was granted, States Attorney Hall
appearing In behalf of the state and
Messrs. Jenkins, Murphy and Brooke
conducting the defendants side of the
case.
Some interesting facts were develop
ed in the trial of Smith. 1t was
proven that Smith, Pittinger, and
White had taken coal from the car
Friday night of last week. They
began operations about s o'clock and
for two hours or more worked buSily
hauling the coal in ThOs. Atoms
Jumper" The Jumper" having
been taken from Atoms barn without
his knowledge. They all went with
common consent and from the officers
fntn Iinn1ncnI
between six and seven thousand
pounds of coal had been recovered.
After being out twenty minutes the
jury returned verdict of guilty and
the court imposed a fine of 800 and
thirty days in Jail. An appeal has
been taken by Smith to the circuit
court.
Brink's trial was set for Thursday
but the REGISTER went to press that
morning and cannot give particulars.
From floating rumOrs it is supposed
the defense would base its case on the
statements of White that Brink knew
nothing about the robbery and also
had no knowledge Of the coal being
hidden about his premises. This may
or NAV not be true-the REGISTER
has no means of knowing, but one
thing is certain the defendent either
has been using "frce coal'' from the
''deposits" for some time or he must
have patent soft coal heater which
burns air as the coal dealers report
that he has purchased very little coal
at their supply houses. If he has a
secret for heating residences without
the use of fnel and sees fit to disclose