The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-01-01
STRANGE INDEED IS
KINGSTREE'S STORY.
THR DISPENSER ROBBED OF a VERY
LARGE SUM
Held UP by Four Masked Mcn-His Bond
Had Expired But a Few Days Before
and Nobody Ia Responsible for Dam.
ages.
(SCeaial to The State. }

this morning, as business people
were entering upon their duties for
the day, it was whispered around
that the dispensary had again boon
robbed and that Dispenser T.. NJ.
Player had been 'held up" and re-
lieved Of over 81, 800 in cash just be.
fore daylight this morning.
MIR. Player, IL appears, had re-
lated iull particulars to Air. r. r.
Stut;s, town marshal. MIR. Suits
say l., and MIR. Lemon were in the
dispensary last light with Mr. Play
or until nearly midnight, counting
up Mondays sales of liquor; that he
had been robbed, and gave the fol-
lowing particulars:
Player stated that he heard some
one calling him from the outside, at
the back door and was Immediately
covered by two guns, in the hands of
LhoohON Ahon, VIII ueHidiiSSt III"
money or his life, and, being unarm
ed and unprepared for any such emer
genoy, he was powerless, and offered
no resistance, simply saying: Gen
tlemeus, I is in your power"
Two others, making four men in
all, then came forward and entered
the dispensary, and took all the con
tents Of tho safe and two bags of
liquors., and deliberately walked off,
telling MIR. Player to be careful and
not give any alarm for at least 30
minutes, or his life would be in dan
ger. AS soon as Player thought they
had left he ran to Suits house,
which is directly in front of the dis.
pensary.
Mr.. Suits says that after being
aroused he distinctly heard the bug
gies going across Black river bridge,
which is on the west side of Kings
tree, nearly half a milo distant from
the aispensary. Mr.. Suits says he
went on to awake Mr.. Fl. .. Brtton,
the county jailer and also clerk of
the board of control Of this county.
Suits recited everything to him,
and then went on to arouse Mr.. Lem
on, whom he found drunk in bed,
and being unable to arouse him, he
and Mr.. Player stayed thore until
daylight, when Mr.. Britton came and
ordered dispensary locked up.
1t is heavy blow to the town, to
say the least of 1t, and will give
Kingstree a black eye for many
days to come.
Mr.. Player has always been looked
upon as straight man, and the
business people all seem to havo con-
fidence in him. He had not depos
tied any money for about two weeks,
and up to short time ago he had
been deposting his money in the
safe of Messrs. Hitler & Co., which
made it perfectly safe The county
treasurer states that Mr.. Players
bond expired about the 18th Of De-
cember, and he promptly notified H.
0. Britton, clerk Of tho board, and
MIR. Britton states that he promptly
notified the State board of control,
that Mr.. Player was without bond,
and they paid no attention. The
county board, knowing Mr.. Player to
be without bond, quietly let him go
acting dispenser, in the full dis
charge of his duties. To say the
least of this, it amounts to almost
criminal carelessness, and the senti-
mont Of the people demand at least
the prompt removal Of the board, as
Ebyt> this act alone they have shown
tnelr unHtness Tor 3llllng any such
important business Position.
Mr.. Suits says that he is conf
dent that he knows the four men who
robbed the dispensary; that he has
no proof, but that one of the men
wore peculiar kind of macintosh
coat that gave him dead away.
If this wholesale robbery be al
lowed to pass nnnoticed as has been
done in the case Of every other rob-
berry connected with the dispensary
here, the people will vote to put it
out of town. The graded school ie
almost wholly run by the profits OF
the dispensary at this place, and if