The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-14
GANG OF CROOKS.
4 Den Of Vice Invaded by the Officers
Of the Law
AND SAFE BLOWERS ARRESTED.
They Have Been Making Co!unbi"
Their Headquarters tor Months.
Eohiad Aii Over the
state.

Eohbed Nj Over the
state.
Charles Howard. Edward Du"an,
Thomas Nolan and William Mckinley
are the names Of four men under ar
rest in Columbia On the charge OF rob
bing postctlices and banks and IN Il
number OF towns ID South Carolina.
Their arrests and the raids OF the otfi-
GERS in search Of evidence against
them caused quite (; sensation Tues
day. the fifth instant. The State says
the district Of vice was thrown into
turmoil by the repeated riSitations
from the officers and the denizenS
were in dread of further arrests. Over
score Of persons were held at one
lime or another in the effort TO get
information and the officers seem TO
have secured evidence sufficient TO
Justify them IN bringing the case to
trial
The following particulars Of the ar
rests we take from The State. Some
time ago the chief Of police was given
the information that there vas gang
OF Safe-b!owers. putting up in Coium-
bia. They attracted attention to
themselves ly their lavish eNpcldi-
ture OF money. their liberal treat
ment OF their friends in places where
drinks could be secured. ard by max
ing presents to women. Chief DAILY
and the city detectives began TO watch
the movements OF these people and
sent for MeSSrS. Gregory and PulSlfer
the United States secret service
agents who are located in South Caro-
lima.
TIE officers were waitirg for an op-
portunity TO strike when chance
placed the men III the hands of the
police. Sunday night. the 4th instant,
a pistol Was fired 10y some one in or at
house or Gates street. Officer Nc
Quatters arrested Edward Dugan on
the charges Of carrying a concealed
weapon aud Of discharging firearms
on the street. The following morning
in the recorders court Dugan was
tined $40 on the first named charge.
He paid this amount promptly and
put up another so for his appearance
at the recorders court on the charge
Of diScharging firearms. Monday at
ternoon, the 3th instant, Charles
Howard. one Of the witnesses in the
latter case. went to talk With the
chief in regard to the case and Capt.
DAILY thought it time to make d move
in the more important case as How
ard and Dugan were both being Shad-
owed. Accordingly whea these two
appeared in the recorders court Tues
day morning, the 9Th instant, they
were detained Officers Strickland,
Marsh. Thackham and Dowie were
sent to get the other men under suS-
picion. Strickland and Marsh arrested
Thomas Nolan in a house on Gates
street kept by negreSS. William
Mckinley was found at Grants res
taurant by Thackham and Dowie.
The officers then began searching
examination of these men. Raid after
raid was made in the tenderloin dis
trict and while no actual arrests were
made there were a score Of denlzens
and frequenterS of questionable places
detained as witnesses. The officers
kept their own counsel and would give
out no information, but the news got
abroad that there was wholesale az
rest of safe blowers under the charge
Of disorderly conduct.
HOWARD, ALIAS HEARNE.
Howard appears to be the leader Of
the gang. His road name is
''Dutchy.'; He had very swell apart
ments in a locality of questionable
nature on Gates street, between Ger
vais and Lady. When his apartments
were searched the chief, the city de-
tectives and the secret service men
found receipts for furniture and fur
nisllings which had cost Howard hun
dredS Of dollars. There was also a ne"
dress suit case and a new yaliSe. both
of fine quality. The officers also found
a number Of suits Of clothes and other
articles of apparel-some rough aad
evidently used ''on the road" others
for use in the city When Howard was
brought suddenly into Chief Days Of
fee where he faced Inspectors Gregory
and Irving the crook showed that he
recognized the latter who were wit
nesses against Howard (or Hearne as
he was then KNOWN for blowing open
a safe at Barnwell, v. Va. In March.
1899. Howard was sentenced to spend
three years at Moundsvllle. ". Va
When Howard'S person was searched
the police found $500 sewed in the
seat CT his underclothing,
NOLAN. THE ARTIST.
The next most important in the
party arrested seems to be Thomas
Nolan The police apparently have
some information as to his past but
they will divulge nothing. except in
regard to Howard When he was ar
rested in the house kept by Carrie
Baker, Nolan had nearly $500 on his
person.
When the officers searched the room
which he had occupied they found the
equipment necessary for the work o.
safe blowing. The heavy tools are
picked up in the towns in which tile
work is to be done, but there are other
tools which Enthusiastically are marks
OF the profession. and Nolan had these
in his room wrapped in a bundle
There was q flash light, such rs is
used by crooks. and Two electric bat
terieS for the light. There was a!sC
pocket compass. a mileage book OF
the Southern Railway Company with
Thomas Nolan'S name written there.
on. a Colts revolver and q large mum.
Der of cartridges and 4 pocket map OF