The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-18
A SENSATION IN THE TOWN OF UNION.
ATTEMPT 10 BURN A NEW BANK
BUILDING.
ROsin, Straw. Oil and Lighted Candle
in tho Ccllar-Statcment from DR.
w. NJ. Meador, Accused Of the


w. NJ. Meador, 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 fir to a handsome block Of buildings
just completed. The Now Fra makes
the following statements:
The new bank building just being
flushed, is the largest, and by far.
the handsomcst building in town, be-
ing four stoi les high. The first and
second loOr was finished ti"St, 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
mcntS in the same building.
1t is stated that DR.. Mcador last
Morday night after leaving the store,
started for home. but was seen by a
patty to return after u few minutes
aud unlock tho door aud enter without
| striking light. The party noticed
THAT no light was made and he awaited
Developments. tie says ha finally saw
TIE D.. rNulr out and lock the door
auG Gsva"tGI hurvictiy around the
cr"rt", Au& >:rwu the street Suspect
~ >c::,e:@:v:, wrpuE key WAS 90,
.>s.:v:.;. ~: = pr'.'eiuau WAS hunted
Ic -: :HsE;.sc :1ey su:orei the drug
s:c"3. So: %:,s:: 'NHS:uE around. y
'su;s-:: - A|> }U-: - :a, t,Nr d;Scon-
uar'.t.:. g." : -, a-,.$+G more SuSuirions
auG :c*y &@a.y wen: down into the
ca.'sv w.sl l".. u lew steps down a
igH. Was discovered IN the cellar and
upon invest; cation it was found to be
a short lighted candle and around the
candle was piled shaviugs 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
was surrounded by the litter also sat
uratcd with oil. Leading from the
barrels Of oil were kept there was a
row or trail Of yosin. 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
niticcnt building would have heen en-
veloped 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
, ing the policeman on guard, asked
him what was up and what he was
that he had been left there to guarf
the store on account Of some ono try
; ing to break in The DR.. asked hin
who left him there and he was told tina
l Dr.. Smith and Cotton had left hin
0 there. The DR.. asked why he hat
not been sent for? The pnlicemal
t told him no did not know. The Dr..
af.cr opening and shutting some draw
G crs. won't awav in Il few minutes.
Il Tho Union Drug Company was com
!, posed Of DR.. Meador and DR.. Nj. r
. Smith, as well As We can learn. Tn
- co.partncrship was dissolved ycster
II day morning and the keys were turn
q cd over to DR.. Smith
:. Now the question arises who pu
" that lighted candle in that dangnrou
r. place. Should the building hav
10 caught there would have possibly bee
! one Of the greatest connagratiOns eve
Il seen in Union. 1t is impossible {
;" estimate the loss that would have re
J. suited.
~ DIR. ME.ADOR'S STATEMENT.
Monday night X. Of =. were holding
l.. meeting at their hail above the dru
store. While they were in session
N said TO senior clerk OF drug store
Wonder il anybody could sec wha
!, was going on up there?" Said he didn
know. | said thai the Woodmen {
~ the World met there, and | went or
Il into the street, looked up and saw onl
III the heads Of two men and | Wake
back and told him what | had seer
h. We stood there and talked fe
II. minutes. | heard q noise upstairs
II the hall and then remarked again
uh this clerk that [ was going up th
:" street to see If the windows woul
have to be shaded. Went up as far
Carolina Drug Store and stopped al
'ss spoke to 81 man and told him | wantc
IN to SEQ if could So \ the hall. | knc
nc about the work.. i th' + ''..'ts
o, Pythias, but wunteG to see if nccGssa,
pit to shade the wi, Iows. | then starte
back, got opposite CarsoDs barbt
to shop. He spoke about bottle Of ha
no vigor. | was gone something near
q minutes, and when | got back an
:" opened the door which makes conside
-, able noise the clerk came from benin
l'u tho entrance 20 the cellar stairwa,
ch AS came near he took out his watc
i'm and said, "My. didn't know it was
cr latc-after TO-" then said it WI
,s time for me to hc at home He bic
he out the lamps. | went out tho doc
,d. first. We went across to COL Young
r. together. He went down side stree
-, | went down Main street. Going on
80, found Louis Carson talking to som
'u one and asked him il he was goiD
ed home. He said yes, that be won!
go ovcrtakc me. When he did so W
". walked together as far as my house
,lo When | got home it was 20 minute
II. after 10.
get up before day every morning
ho which Is known. On that morning a
| 11.b h.
w. which | occasionally have. locke
y, for medicine at home and finding non
at suitable, dressed aId went up to tn
be store to get some. | reached tho stor
I'd about $50. Whom | got there | saw
v, light in tho store. Knowing that som
%, one was there and taking it to be Col
pd ton or Dr.. Smith [ ''hellOed " to them
" but the voice of u policeman answered
-, | went On around to the stove and tn
y conversation took place as related ey
"s cept told him | was very sick and co
ko ~ 4 1txts& -. 1.