The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-03-09
A Gang Ct Alleged Robbers.
Prominent and Well-to-do Farmers
Said to be in the Band.

ing Who Are Implicated.
Special to the State.
Pomaria, S. c., March 3.-"The
bottom has been knocked out OF
Pomaria, and the war in Cuba is
placed in the background for the time
being. 1t is we'll known the most
daring robbers, wanton burning OF
buildings have beea gcing on here
for years and little attention seems
to have been given it, as all thought
it was q band of ''home raised Jesse
James" and none cared to strike for
fear of being struck back. So bold
and darine had this become that
good white men saw parties drive IN
the place in the bright moonlight or
early dawn rob and leave without
even reporting the matter or Names
however we'll were the parties Known,
for fear Of bodily itjlry or secret
hurt.
First, +. R. Hipp's store was
burned, robbed first, it was thought.
Then the railroad depot was forcl-
bly, entered and wagon loads taken:
then Settler & Co.'S robbed Of sere-
rel hundred dollars worth.
Then again the Southern railroad.
At this time detective came, Sc
cured large lot of the stolen prop
erty, but by 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 i'm
plicated.
Then came the burning Of Col.
Holloway's gin house and other
buildings.
Then the last, by which it is hoped
the parties are trapped and broken
up, was that two weeks ago. y.
Hipp's large store Of plantation sup
plies was robbed. Mr.. Hipp lay ap-
parently quiet, but a detective, in
the guise of a ''picture enlarger,
came upon tho scene. He found a
wagon load and two buggy loads OF
the stolen goods in the house of NJ.
A. F. Riser, former clerk; also III
the barn 40 kegs of blasting powder
belonging to the railroad. This was
in house near the railroad built for
that purpose. The house was burned,
and, it was supposed, the powder,
too, until it's finding. Mr.. Riser lived
with his father, a most estimable cl-
tizen and strict church member; o
we'll to do farmer. Goods Of small
nature were found in other houses OF
men of good repute. So far the
authorities have arrested 4. T. Riser
and brother, Mr.. Buckley and se7e'
raj negroes, one the renowned ''blind
tiger" and "dispensary enemy, Vii
lius Baker. There is NJ particle OF
doubt that there are large number
interested, and what is SO asson!sh-
ing, 50 much so, as to border on dis
belief, is that some of the most we'll
to-do farmers, men Of families and
strict church members, some even OF
wealth, are thought to be implicated,
and should any one ''peach On his
pals, then. in that case, can only
say "tEe end is not yet" The ques-
ton the good people are asking each
other is: "Whither are We drifting,
when some of our best men are turn
ing robbers and firebugs.
NAMES OF THOSE ARRESTED.
Newberry, March 3-James A.
Riser and bis three sons, Albert f.,
Joe and Willie, and John Buckley,
white, and Wiss and William Baker,
colored, where arrested today at Po-
maria, this county, charged with
robbipg the store Of d. Hipp at Po-
maria.
The case was worked up by the
Detective Holloway and the stolen
goods was found in possession OF all.
Riser and his sons stand we'll i'll the
country. In default Of $3.50 bond
they were committed to Jail for trial
next week.
! Doa't.