The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-10-28
A WOMAN'S SCREAM
Of Terror in the Middle of the Night
Drove s. Black

Drove Black
WILLIAM FROM HER BED ROOM.
After Robbins the House He Was
Getting Ready to Commit
worse Crime. but WIS
Run on.
Columbia seems to be suffering from
an epidemic of burgiarieS. 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
orazen and daring than the startling
and unsuccessful attempts upon the
residence of 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 twu squares OF the police station.
The methods Of the robbers are al
most identical, both houses on Lady
street having been visited three times
at close intervals. But there is a per-
lection of execution and evidence OF
design sinister and repulsive not be-
urayed in former depredationS.
The scenes OF the robberieS are Mrs.
j. II. Folks boarding house, west cor
ner Lady and Assem- bly,, and Mrs. B.
L. Gary's boarding house, west cor
ner OF Lady and Sumter streets. The
thief entered the former place by a
rear stairway to the second floor of
the dwelling, three rooms OF which
we're unlocked and presented an open
field. From one room, be 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 decanped with a sum
Of 1852 and note for S15.
Policeman w. G. HERS was the
heaviest loser, having in his trousers
s272 and a note for SIS. Mr.. J. H.
Foulk, Jr., was robbed of SIS. The
others lost from So to Sl5-"hatever
amount left in their clothing. The
clothing was left on the piazza 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 area part, then
he worked his way Up to the third
floor, examining the doors on the sec.
ond and third floors, all were locked
except one. From this room be 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
form Of q man bending over the
dresser hurriedly turning over every
thing. He emptied the drawers upon
the floor intentiy seeking for some
particular things.
She says that every few moments
be would cast fugitive glanceS ln her
direction and that she lay there, it
seemed for hours, suffering the most
torturesome agony. At last after
searching the room thoroughly, he
picked up a valiSe and as she thought
left the ROOM Then the lady, in the
next instant, realized that the eyes Of
negro were looking straight into her
own. ! never knew what frozen
with fear meant until that moment"
said she. He stood there for ages,
it seemed, never taking bis 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 agonizing cry awoke the whole
house, Mr.. r. G. Aughtry, Mrs. Gary'S
brother, and others were up instantly,
but could not get glimpse of the flee
ing criminal. In the morning d suit
If clothes and ripped-open valise
were found in the yard: a guitar aud
some household articles of value were
found around the premises.
1t was known by a few that the
lady's husband carried large sums f
money at times. Fortunately he had
deposited in bank very large SUN
recently. This is the third attempt
To rob his rOumS since last Friday
night.
Mrs. Foulk's home has also been un-
Ger the ban for some weeks. Three
weeks ago a burglar successfully bur
glarjzed her husbands room during
the night and relieved him Of $40, all
be had in his pockets at the time.
Officer HERS is the custodian of the
State house and has heavy expense
on accent Of illness but by scrupulouS
saving had made some money, the
loss Of Which falls heavily on him.
Assassins Worked Cheaply.