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.
Rosin, Straw. Oil and Lighted Candle
in the Cc'lar-Statcment from DR.
w. M. Meador Accused OF the
(Irirnn

w. Az" "cluOf, Accused Oh tnc
Crime.
The most astounding sensation was
sprung upon the people Of Union or
tuesday morning, 9th inst, relating
TO an attempt made the night before to
set fira to handsome block Of buildings
just completed. The New Era makes
the following statement:
The new bank building just being
finished, is the largest, and by far.
the handsomest building in town, be-
ing four stories high. The first and
second floor was finished ti"st and the
Union Drug Co. went into one Of the
rooms and fitted up one Of the finest
drug stores in t1e 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 few minutes
aud unlock the door and enter without
striking light. The 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 Oh
tanned, and a policeman was hunted
up and together they entered the drug
store, and began looking around. a
lantern was found on the floor discon-
nectcd. which aroused more suspicious
and they finally went down into the
cellar. when only a few steps down a
light was discovered in the cellar and
upon Investigation it was found to be
a short lighted candle and around the
~ II ln1 hpt, Il
rubbish. all Of which we're saturated
with kerosene oil, and very near the
candle stood a barrel Of rosin also
saturated with kerosene oil. Within
a few feet stood the oil tank, which
was surrounded by the litter also sat
urated 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 tames. A policeman was
left in charge of the store to await
Developments. Early Tuesday morn.
came and went into the store and find
ing the policeman on guard, asked
him what was up and what he was
doing there? tho policeman replied
that he had been 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 tha
Dr.. Smith and Cotton had left him
there. The DR.. asked why he hat
not been sent for? The policeman
told him hc did not know. The DR..
| Inf i,,n or1 ,1> 4
9 crs. won't awaV in a few minutes.
I The Union Drug Company was com
posed OF DR.: Meador and DR.. Nj It
Smith, as well as we can learn. Tn,
> co partnership was dissolved yester
Il day morning and the keys were turn
Z cd over to DR.. Smith.
: Now the question arises who pu
y that lighted candle in that dangnrou
:. place. Should the building hav
O caught there would have possibly bee,
one Of the greatest conliagratiOns eve
y estimate the loss that would have re
suited.
u DIR. MEADOR'S STATEMENT.
Monday night X. of =. were holdinl
). Il meeting at their hall above the drl,,
store. While they were in session
II said TO senior clerk OF drug store
Wonder if any body could see wha
3, was going on up there?" Said he didn'
. know. | said that the Woodmcn o
y the World met there, and l went ou
into tho street, looked up and saw onl.
II the heads OF two men and | Wake
back and told him what | had seen
l. We stood there and talked q fe,
/. minutes. | heard noiso upstairs |
t. the hall and then remarked again
II this clerk that [ was going up tn
street TO see If the windows woul
have to be shaded. Went up as far a
Cnroina Drug Store and stopped an
's spoke to " man and told him | wantc
n to SEQ if could So n the hall. | kne,
G about the work. ;: / ~ + ';-.'ts {
}, Pythias, but wanteG to see if necessar
It to shade the vii lows. then starte
back, got opposite CursoD's bnrbe
O shop. He spoke about bottle Of hal
n ylgOr. | was gone something near |
, minutes, and when | got back an
:, opened the door which makes consider
:, able noise the clerk came from behin
u tho entrance to tho cellar stairway
IL AS came near he took out his watcl
N and said, My. didn't know it was g
II latc-after TO-" | then said it wa
is time for me to he at home. He blcy
10 out the lamps. went out tho doc
I. first. We went across to Col. Young
:. | went down Main street Going on
:, found Louis Carson talking to som,
~ one and asked him ii he was goipt
home. He said yes, that he woult
% Ovcrtnkc me. When he did so ",
:. walked together as far as my house
10 When | got home it was 20 minute.
i after 10.
get up before day every morning
q which is known. On that morning a
E 5 o'clock | woke n,... :, ,itx hoadachc
- which ] occasionally have. | looked
, for medicine at home and finding mono
u suitable, dressed ahd went up TO the
e store to get some. | reached tho store
d about $50. Whom | got there saw &
, light in the store. Knowing that some
b, one was there and taking it to be Col.
/ ton or Dr.. Smith 'helloed to them
v but the voice Of d policeman answered
:, | went on around to the stove and the
!, conversation took place as related ex.
> cept told him was very sick and OF
3 the headache medicine in his presence