The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-03-10
GANG OF ROBBERS CAUGHT.
Prominent, WeII-to-do Farmers Are
in the Band.
EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES.
Burning and Burglaries Been Going
on for Months, Almost Openly-No
Telling Who are Implicated.

A special to the Columbia State from
Pomaris, of the Sd says: "The bottom
has been knocked" ont Of Pomaris, and
the war in Cuba is placed in tho back
ground for the time being. 1t is well
known the most daring robbers, wanton
burning of buildings have been going
on here for several years and little ss-
tention seems to have been given it, A.
all thought it was band of "home-
raised Jessie James," and none cared
to strike for fear of being struck back.
So bold and daring had this become
that good white men saw parties drive
in the place in the bright moon light
or early dawn rob and leave without
even reporting the matter or names,
however we'll were the parties known,
for fear Of bodily injury or secret
hurt.
First, E. R. Hips store vas burned,
robbed first, it was thought. ThentheS
railroad depot was forcibly entered,
and wagon loads taken, .then Seizler q
Co. 3 store robbed of several hundred
dollars worth. sil
Then again the Southern railroad. A.
this time detectives came, secured
large lot of the stolen property, but by
o pernicious practice and methods Of
the railroad, "better compromise and
get money than to punish the culprit
the matter was hushed, although some
Of the "best citizens" or so supposed,
were implicated.
Then came the burning Of Col Hol-
loway's gin house and other build
ings. "a
Then the last, by which It il hoped
the parties are trapped and broken mp,
was that two weeks ago. ID. Hipp's
large store Of plantation supplies was
robbed. MIR. Hipp lay apparently quiet
but detective, in the guise Of . pic-
ture enlarger." came upon the sceDe.
He found wagon load and two buggy
house of Mr.. A F. Riser,
former clerk; also in the barn forty
kegs of blasting powder belonging 10
the railroad. This was in house near
the railroad built for that pur-
pose. The house was burned, ana.
it was supposed, the powder, too, until.
its finding. Mr.. Riser lived with his
father, q most estimable citizen and 4
strict church member; q well.to-dO
farmer. Goods of q small nature we're
found in other houses Of men of'good
repute. So far. the authorities havs
arrested A. F. Riser and brother, aMr.
Buckley and several negroes, ono the
''blind tiger" and .sdispen-
sary enemy" Villius Baker. There il
no particle Of doubt that there are 4,
large number interested, and Whist isso
astonishing, so much 80 - to bordeS
on disblief, is that some Of the most:i
well.to-do farmers, men Of families and!
strict church members, some even q
wealth, are thought to be implicated
and should any one peach" on hies
pals, then. in that case, / can only say
''the end is nst yet" The question the Z
good people are asking each other 10: ,
"Whither are We drifting" when som4
of our best men are turning robbers and
firebugs.
Another special from Newberry says
Jas. A. Riser and his three sons, Al
bert +, Joe and Willie, and John Buck
ley, white, and Willis and William 4
Baker, colored, were arrested at Pos
maria. In default Of $3.50 bond they
were committed to Jail. sf