The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-24
SPOTTED TWO MEN.
Detectives Think They
Will Make Capture.
Believed That Two White Men Com
mitted the Crimes, Left Raleigh Sat-
urdaY Night, Belonged TO Famous
Gang OF Crooks.
Gang Of Crooks.

The two Pinkerton detectives, sent
here by the Standard Oil Company to
ferret out the murder, arson and rob-
berry crimes perpetrated in Raleigh
early Saturday morning, expect soon
to land their men. They have dis
covered several clues so conclusive
that they are absolutely certain that
they will have their men with evil
dence sufficient to break their necks,
ere two weeks have expired. The Sc
cret service men could probably cap
ture them within one week, but they
would be running chances, and they
wish to consummate the destruction
of a Pc which is supposed to have
been operating in certain portions of
the South for nearly a year. 1t is
believed that these men are q part of
the crowd to which the two safe
crackers at WadesborO in Jail there
and wanted by North and South Caro-
lima and the Postoffice Department,
belonged.
Those who have the matter in
charge say that it is known definitely
that two white men committed the
crimes, and they know with almost
the same certainty who those two
men were. One of them was in Raj
eigh. was seen here Saturday morning
after the fire, and it is said that they
both left Raleigh on a train (the des-
tination was not given) Saturday
night.
Part of this supposed gang of
thieves and smart safe crackers were
captured a few weeks ago at a South
Carolina town, and gave information
concerning the operations of the sew
eral members, and implicated the two
men held at Wadesboro. They have
committed a series of black crimes,
covering the interim between Phila-
delphia, Pa. and Atlanta, Ga. OF
course the service men know the
joints and dividing and concentrating
and distributing points and places of
these fellows, and with the deScrip-
tons they have of the two persons
who visited the oil warehouse last
week, they practically know their
men. One of them entered the es-
adjustment last week and passed
upon Local Agent Virgins as an eX
pert oil wagon inspector and stated
that he had been sent here by the
company's officer at Savannah, Ga.
to examine the wagon tanks here. 1t
is now known that this man is one of
the famous gang of robbers, and that
he faxed the authority he successfully
assumed. 1t was said that the local
manager should have demanded TO
see the inspectors credentials, else
refuse to permit him to go over the
works. 1t was also stated that the
company has never done business in
this manner, and would not send a
man from Savannah at great expense,
to look at a $40 tank and wagon
hardly worth thrpwing away, when
the company's office at Baltimore
knew all about the condition of every
minuetest detail connected with the
office in Raleigh.
Will Rebuild in City.
Mr.. W. M. Whitelaw, superintend-
ent of this division of the Standard
Oil Companys offices stated yester-
day that the company once contem-
plated for several serious reasons to
build their plant outside the city
limits, as they must furnish police
protection for themselves any way
and the water company would extend
mains out to their plant But after
celebrating considerably they decided
to rebuild on the companys lot here,
at the same place where the fire oc-
Cured, and the new building will be
erected at the corner of the lot, cover |
ing the spot where the former office
stood. The building will be erected with l
an iron frame and will be so feet long |
and forty feet wide. This will leave
q distance of ninety feet between the !
oil tanks and the warehouse. A deep
cellar will be dug, in which will be !
stored lubTicating oils, which, how |
ever, will not burn.
After Fire Doings.
The two tanks which still contain
oil have been tapped on the street |
side and the outlets will furnish oil |
for light and cooking purposes until !
there is a larger supply from oil |
trains. There will be no local "oil |
famine" and so far as the supply is |
concerned there will be no effect felt |
in the city.
Some persons fishing on Crabtree
creek Sunday, Monde and Tuesday, !
reported yesterday afternoon late that
they had experienced exceptionally |
good luck, and had caught more fish |
in one day than heretofore in week |
This was caused by the hundreds of |
gallons of oil which flowed with the
hydrant water on the day of the great
through the sewers to
the creek, and forced the fishes to
the surface, and in some unknown
way compelled them to bite