The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-04
The pIcKpOeKETs IN COLUMBIA.
Two Thieves Caught in the Act.
Presiding Elder BeasIey a
Victim.

Two pickpockets we're caught red
handed last night in the act of flch-
ing the purse Of Mr.. G. W. Newman
of Columbia. as he was putting his
two little children on the street car,
opposite the "skyscraper -
Mr.. Newman had just got out of the
elevator with his children and walked
straightway across the street to the
car, and was helping them from the
steps into the aisle seats when he felt
two men shove heavily against him,
forcing the children within the car.
Instantly he grabbed out and caught
one Of the men by the wrist, forcing
the pocketbook out of the purse
snatcher's hand, the purse falling On
the car steps.
Motorman Dowie and Conductor
Maxcey saw the incident, and before
the crooks could get away had them
by the collar, others also taking a
hand in preventing their escape. One
of the crooks protested loudly against
his detention, claiming that he was a
citizen of Columbia and begged that
they turn the culprit over to him and
that he would take him to the police
station.
This spiel failed to convince anyone,
so both we're carried down to the sta
tion. There they were searched. On
one was found 1886 and on the other
s36.
This money was secreted about their
person at various places. The search
brought damaging evidence against
them.
The purse thieves will be given a
hearing this morning before Recorder
Stanley, who has magisterial powers.
Several persons were eye-witnesses of
the attempt upon Mr.. Newman. Mr..
A. M. Brewer of Columbia, whose
pocket was picked yesterday, will ap-
pear at the hearing for the purpose of
identifying one of them.
Pickpockets did not spare the clergy
yesterday. Presiding Elder j. S. Beas-
ley of 1415 Marion street had his
trousers pockets relieved of sl9 in
cash. He thinks he was touched as
he was lifting his little girl up into
car on his way back home from the
fair grounds. He felt his money just
before be boarded the car and when
he failed to locate it in reaching for
car fare he remembered having been
closed in upon in a curious sort of
way Just as he lifted the child to a
seat. He had to borrow car fare to get
himself and family home. He dismiss
ed the incident from his mind with
out the slightest show Of temper and
bore his provoking loss with calms
true Christian fortitude.
MEN ACCUSED OF ROBBING DIR.
HAIR WILL BE TRIED MONDAY.
The two men suspected of stealing
diamond from the person of Dr.. l.
NJ. Hair of Union will be given pre-
liminary Monday. They gave their
names as Chas. W. Banks of Augusta
and James Parks of Peoria.
Dr.. Hair arrested the men and turn
ed them over to the police. But for
his own ill-founded suspicious the
stone might have been found. He.
spotted the wrong man, and was hav--
ing him searched when the other, who
became more and more nervous, drop,
| ped the stone into a sink. The search
ers heard the stone fall.
It was stated yesterday that DR..
Hair had been offered a good round,
sum, more than equivalent to the value
of the stone, to let the matter drop.
But as this would be compounding &
felony. DR.. Hair could not withdraw
from the prosecution, although at SER
Iicus financial loss to himself.
1t is hoped that the guilt Of the
parties can be proved and that they
get long terms in prison, for the
scoundrels are becoming too numerous
on occasions of this kind. The last
time pickpockets were arrested they
got out on bail in a sum altoeether
too small-and never came back any
more.
Dnocn,t Rosnact Old A ua