The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-10-28
A WOMAN'S SCREAM
Of Terror in the Middle of the Night
Drove Black
WILLIAM FROM HER BED ROOM
After Robbing the House He Was
Getting Ready to Commit a
Worse Crime, but Was
Run on


Worse Crime, but Was
Run OF.
Columbia seems TO be suffering from
an epidemic Of burglaries. The follow
ing We clip from The State of Thurs
day.
There was brought to light Thurs
day the fact that there had been COM
mitted in the very centre OF the city
Two robberies which were even more
brazen and daring than the startling
and unsuccessful attempts upon tue
residence uf Rev. DR.. Lindsay few
nights ago. These last robberies oc-
Cured on Lady street just one block
on either side Of Main street, but with
in two squares OF the police station.
The methods of the robbers are al
most Identical, bJ,h houses Gu Lady
street having been visited three tunes
at close intervals. But there is per-
fection Of execution aud evidence OF
| design sinister aud repulsive not be.
trayed in former depredations.
The scenes OF the robbcries are Mrs.
j. III. Folks boarding house, west cor
ner Lady and Assembly, and Mrs. B.
l.. Gary'S boarding house, west cor
ner OF Lady and Sumter streets. The
thief entered the former place by
rear stairway to the second floor of
the dwelling, three rooms Of which
were unlocked and presented an open
! field. From one room, he secured the
trousers Of the three occupants and
from another those Of four heavy
sleepers, and repaired to the piazza
where he deliberately searched all the
clothing, and decamped with sum
Of 1852 and note for s75.
Policeman w. G.. Hers was the
heaviest loser, having in his trousers
s272 and note for e75. Mr.. J. H.
Foulk, Jr., was robbed Of s45. The
others lost from So to sl5-whatever
amount left In their clothing. The
clothing was left on the piazZl and In
the hallway. There were three valua-
ble watches on the dresser In Police
man Hers room, but these were un-
touched, although lighted lamp was
on the dresser during the entire night.
Mrs. b. l.. Gary's dwelling has
three-stories. The thief gained an
entrance through the front door and
unlocked door TO the 4rea part, then
he worked his way up - third
floor, examining the doors on the sec
ond and third floors, all were locked
except one. From this room he took
the occupants trousers and carried
them down stairs into the yard. He
reentered and made an examination
OF the ground floor, but again only
one was unlocked, presenting an in
viting prey To this midnight maurau-
der.
A married lady whose husband
works until the latter part OF the
night occupied this room. She is a
light sleeper she says, and hearing a
noise, opened her eyes. BY accident
her gaze was in the direction OF the
washStand mirror. The sight that
she beheld paralyzed her with terror r.
form OF man bending over the
dresser hurriedly turning over every.
thing, He emptied the drawers upon
the floor intently seeking for some
particular things.
She says that every few moments
he would cast fugitive glances In her
direction and that she lay there, 1T
seemed for hours, suffering the most
torturesome agony. AT last after
searching the room thoroughly, he
picked up a yalise and as she Thought
| left the room. Then the lady, In the
next Instant, realized that the eyes Of
a negro were looking straight into her
own. Il never knew what frozen
with fear meant until that moment, ="
said she. He stood there for ages,
it seemed, never taking his eyes of
mine, then stealthily he Crept closer
to the bed; | could not move or cry
out until he put into words his dla
bolical purpose."
Her agOnizlng cry awoke the whole
house, Mr.. Il. g. Aughtry, Mrs. GarV's
brother, and others were up Instantly,
but could not get "A glimpse Of the tlre-
log criminal. In the morning 4 suit
Of clothes and a rippcd-upcn vali,e
were found in the yard; a guitar and
some hous, hold articles OF value were
found around the premises.
1t was known by a few that the
lady'S husband carried large sums Of
money at times. Fortunately he had
deposited in a bank very large u.n
recently. This Is the third attempt
To rob his rooms since last FRIDAY
night.
Mrs. Foulk's home has alSp been un.
Ger the ban for some weeks. Hurrc
weeks ago burglar successfully bur
glarIzrd her huSbanu's room during
the night and relieved him OF 800. ali
he had in his pockets at the time
Onicer Hers is the custodian II the
State house and has neavy expense
on accent OF Illness but by scrupuluus
saving had made some money, the
loss Of which falls heavily on him.
Lost on the Deep.