The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-18
A SENSATION IN THE TOWN OF UNION.
ATTEMPT TO BURN A NEW BANK
BUILDING.

| BUILDING.
ROsin, Straw. Oil and Lighted Candle
in the CcIlar-Statcmcnt from DR.
w. Nj. Mcador, Accused of the
Crime.
The most astounding sensation was
sprung upon the people Of Union on
Tuesday morning, 9th inst, relating
| to an attempt made the night before to
set fir5 to a handsome block OF buildings
just completed. The New E:a makes
the following statements;
The new bank building just being
finished, is the largest, and by far.
| the handsomest building in town, be-
ing four stol les high. The first and
second floor was finished fist, and the
Union Drug Co. went into one Of the
| rooms and fitted up one Of tn" finest
drug stores in the up country aud the
Merchants and Planters Bank have
just moved into their handsome apart
ments in the same building.
1t is stated that DR.. Mcador last
Monday night after leaving the store,
started for home, but was seen by a
party to return after a few minutes
| and unlock the door and enter without
striking light. Tho party noticed
| that no light was made and he awaited
developments. He says he finally saw
the Dr.. come out and lock the door
and departed hurriedly around the
corner, and down the street. Suspect
ing something wrong key was OBJ.
tanned, and Il policeman was hunted
up and together they entered the drug
store, and began looking around. A
nected, which aroused more suspicious
and they finally went down into the
cellar when only few steps down q
| light was discovered in the cellar and
upon Investigation it was found to be
q short lighted candle and around the
candle was piled shavings or straw and
rubbish. all Of which were saturated
with kerosene oil, and very near the
candle stood barrel of rosin also
saturated with kerosene oil. Within
a few feet stood the oil tank, which
uratcd with Oil. Leading from the
candle to the room where the various
barrels Of oil were kept there was a
row or trail of rosin. The steps and
| landing was also noticed to be wet
with kerosene oil. The candle was
burning low and possibly in the short
space Of fifteen minutes more the mag
nifccnt building would have been en-
vcloped in flames. A policeman was
left in charge of the store to await
developments. EARLY Tuesday morn
ing, about five o'clock. DR.. Meador
came and went into the store and find
ipg the policeman. on guard, asked
him what was up and what he was
doing there? tho policeman replied
that he had heen left there to guard
the store on account of some one try
ing to break in. The DR.. asked him
who left him ther" and he was told that
Dr.. Smith and Colton had left him
there. The DR.. asked why he ha(
not been sent for? The policeman
! told him no did not know. The Dr.
af.cr opening and shutting some draw
, crs. went awav in q few minutes.
Tho Union Drug Company was com
posed Of DR.. Meador and DR.. Nj IT
Smith, as well as we can learn. The
, partnership was dissolved ycster
day morning and the keys were turn
3 cd over to DR.. SmiCh.
: Now the question arises who pu
y that lighted candle in that dangcrou
. place. Should the building hav,
0 caught there would have possibly bee,
one Of the greatest coni'agratiOns eve,
! seen in Union. 1t is impo: 'ible t.
: st:"ate the loss that would nave re
suited.
, DIR. MEADOR'S STATEMENT.
Monday night *. of u. were holding
Il meeting at their hall above the drug
store. While they wore III session
, said TO senior clerk Of drug store
Wonder if any body could sec wha
F., was going on up there?" Said he didn'
. know. | said that the Woodmen o
tho World met there, and | went ou
II into the street, looked up and saw onl,
ID the heads OF two men and L walked
back and told him what | had seen
l. We stood there and talked u fe,
/. minutes. | heard O noise upstairs l
T. the hall and then remarked again t
II this clerk that [ was going up tn
" street to sec if the windows woul
have to be shaded. Wont up as far q
Carolina Drug Store and stopped an
ss spoke to ~ man and told him | wantc
G about the work.. = , / tht * ';-'ts z
}, ~ 'hias, but waC ii to see if neccssar
Vt to shau. ~ .IiOws. | then startC
back, got opposite Carson's bnrbc
q shop. He spoke about bottle of hai
n vigor. | was gone something near |
q minutes, and when | got back an
:" oponed the door which makes consider
=, able noise the clerk came from behin
III tho entrance to the collar stairway
IL AS came near he took out his watcI
m and said, "My, didn't know it was 8
is time for me to hc at home. Hc blcy
10 ont the lamps. went out tho doc
l. first. We went across to Col. Young
- together. He went down side street
-. | went down Main street. Going on
-, found Louis Carson talking to som
~ one and asked him ii nc was goin.
!" home He said yes, that he woult
20 ovcI.takc me. When he did so W,
'. walked together as far as my house
10 When | got home it was 20 minute
l. after 10.
| get up before day every morning
"a which is known. On that morning a
~ 5 O'Clock woke ..,,.. =, ~IIx headache
II which | occasionally have. | looked
7, for medicine at home and finding non,
u suitable, dressed ahd went up to tht
'e store to get some. reached tho stor,
d about $50. Whom got there saw
:, light in the store, Knowing that some
\ tor or Dr.. Smith | thellOe0 " tO than