Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-11-03
CAPTURE OF A SAFE.cRAcKER.

a Safe-cracker and OH1cerS or the law
in the Point section Of York county at
about $50 o'clock yesterday morning,
and as the result Of it, the craftsman
was badly shot up, and seems to have
about even chances between passing In
his checks on the spot and going back
TO North Carolina to stand trial for
his part in very successful burglary
he is supposed to have helped commit
at Forest City, last Thursday morning.
The man was captured by Messrs.
Chas. Z. Russell and Adam Hoard Of
Kings Mountain, N. c. They were
members of a posse that had been af-
ter him since last Saturday morning
and they had followed him from Bes-
semer City to Bowling Green, from
Bowling Green to the neighborhood Of
Zeno; from thence to Wrights ferry
and from thence to a point near the
residence Of Mr.. w. A. Brandon, about
half way between the ferry and the
old postofflce of Balloon. Here they
met him in the public road. They tried
to make him surrender peaceably; but
he would not think Of such thing.
He seemed to be more willing to sur
render his life than his liberty, and in
the fight that followed, Messrs. Rus
sell and Hoard came near acommodat-
ing him to his preference.
The first news Of the capture and the
shooting incident thereto was received
at THE ENQUIRER office yesterday af-
ternoon at about 2 o'clock, and as 1t
was impossible to get satisfactory
statement of the facts over the tele-
phone, it was decided to send a special
representative to the spot. The report
er commenced the thirty mile drive
fifteen miles each way-yesterday af-
ternoon at 4.30 o'clock, reached the
scene of the shooting at $50 p. m, and
got back to Yorkville this morning at
2.30. 1t was long hard drive; but 1t
seems justified by the result-complete
and correct details Of a true story that
is seldom paralleled outside Of the
pages Of fiction. -.
When the reporter arrived at the
residence of Mr. Brandon, he found
standing about in groups half doz-
en- or so men. These were G. w. Ken
drick, chief of police; Policeman P. L..
Ferguson, Messrs. Adam Hoard and
Charles E. Russell, all Of Kings Noun
tain, N. c., together with Mr.. w. A.
Brandon, members Of his family and
several neighbors. Inquiry developed
that the wounded cracksman was on a
bed inside Mr.. Brandon's home, in
care of DR.. T. N. Dulin, who has been
with him since a few hours after the
shooting. Chief Kendrick had driven
from Lincolnton, more than thirty
miles away since learning the news,
arriving at o'clock. about an hour af-
ter Policeman Ferguson, who had come
from Gastonia.
In reply to the reporters request for
particulars Mr.. Russell suggested that
probably Policeman Ferguson was best
qualified to relate Chapter I, Of the
story; that he and Mr.. Hoard would
take up Chapter II from where Mr..
Ferguson left off, and that Chapter III
could be compiled from questions as to
matters that had been omitted, per-
sonal observations, and such informa-
ton as DR.. Dulin and others might see
proper to add. The suggestion was
good, and Policeman Ferguson gave i1
his very interesting chapter as followst
1.-TWO suspicious characters had been
noticed about Kings Mountain all day
last Saturday and Chief Kendrick and
were very much concerned about
them. They were we'll dressed and had
the appearance Of men Of more thap
ordinary Importance; but we could NOT
make them out and somehow, we
thought they would bear watching.
Chief and were both at the station
Saturday night waiting for the train.
One Of the men came up carrying
valise that we had noticed before, and
asked me how long before the north
bound train was due. I told him that
it was coming, and he abruptly walked
away to the other end Of the depot.
walked over to the chief and we agreed
that this fellow was very probably
member Of the gang that had commit
ted the robbery at Forest City two
days before, and somehow we decided
to board the train. Chief got in at one
end Of the car and got In at the 9TH
er AS the train started chief asked
the conductor where the fellow was
going. After awhile the conductor re-
ported that the suspicious man had
asked that his mileage be torn to Sails
bury: but he was told that it could
only be torn to Charlotte. Pretty soon
noticed that the man we had under
suspicion was also suspicious. He kept
his seat until we were leaving Besse-
mer City, when he jumped up and hur-
idly as possible; but when got outside
he had disappeared. Some Of the by
ISLANDERS, evidently taking in the Sit
uation, informed me that my man had
gone under the depot. went around
to the other side, and got there just In
time to see him coming out. He had
his grip when he left the car; but did
not have it as he emerged from under
the depot. I did not think OF that at
the time, however. 1 told him to stop.
He paid no attention to me; but just
went right on, kinder sideways like.
pulled my pistol and again ordered him
to stop. He continued without a word.
Then, although l knew I had no right
to shoot him, I began firing in his di-
rection. We were going pretty fast