The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-01-14
ALLEGED Safe Blowers
Have Been Making Columbia Their
Headquarters for Months.

Have Been Making Columbia Their
Headquarters for Months.
The Columbia State JanuaryS.
Charles Howard. Edward Dugan,
Thomas Nolan and William Mckinley
are the names of four men under ar
rest in Columbia on the charge of
robbing postoAices and banks and in
a number of towns in South Carolina
Their arrests and the raids Of the
officers iu search of evidence against
them caused quite sensation Tues
day. The district of vice was thrown
into turmoil by the repeated vista
tion from the officers and the deni-
zens we're in dread of further arrests.
Over score of persons were held at
one time 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.
Some time ago the chief OF police
was given the information that there
was . gang Of ssfe-blowers putting
up in Columbia. They attracted at
tension to themselves by their lavish
expenditure Of money. their liberal
treatment of their friends in places
where drinks could be secured, and
by making presents to women. Chief
DAILY and the city detectives began to
watch the movements Of thesepeople
and sent for Messrs. Gregory and
Pulsifer, the United States secret
service agents who are located in
South Carolina.
The officers were waiting for sn
opportunity to strike when chance
placed the men in the hands OF the
police. Sunday night pistol was
fred by some one in or at house on
Gates street. Officer McQuatters
arrested Edwsrd Dugsn on the
charges Of carrying concealed wesp-
on and of dischsrging firearms on
the street. The following morning
in the recorders court Dugan was
fined $40 or the first named charge.
He paid this amount promptly and
put mp another $40 for his appear
ance at the recorders court Tuesday
morning on the charge Of discbarging
firearms. Monday afternoon Chas.
Howard, one of the witnesses in the
latter case, went to talk with the
chief in regard to the case and Cept
DAILY thought it time 80 make uac7e
in the more important csse as How
ard and Dugan were being shadowed
Accordingly when these two appeared
in the recorders court Tuesday
morning they were detained. Officers
Strickland, Marsh, Thackbam and
Dcwie were sent to get the other
men under suspicion. Strickland
and Marsh arrested Thomas Nolan
ia q house Oh Gates street kept by a
negress. William Mckinley was
found at Grants restaurant by
Thackban, and Dowie.
The cf6cers then began search
ing examination of these men. Raid
after raid was made in the tenderloin
district and while no actual arrests
were made there were score of
denizens and frequenters of question
able places detained as Witnesses.
The officers kept their OVID counsel
and would give out no information,
but the news got abroad that there
was wholesale arrest Of ssfe-blowers
under the charge of disorderly con-
dust.
HOWARD, ALIAS HEARNE.
Howard appears to be leader OF
the gang. His 'sroad" name is
"Dutchy." he had very swell apart
ments in locality of questionable
nature on Gervais street, between
Gervsis and Lady. When his apart
ment was searched the chief. the city
detectives and the secret service men
found receipts for furniture and furn
;sb;nns which had cost Howard hum