Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-17

mined without a complete reorgani-
zation. Because of the general irregu-
larities, the commissioner does not feel
that the policyholders are given prop
er protection, and he revokes the Ii
cense.
| - Columbia State, 11th: H. Rudolph
Rabens. the notorious Charleston
fence" for the gangs Of safeblowers
who operated in South Carolina from
1901 TO 1905, dOnned the regulation
stripes at the state penitentiary yes
terday afternoon and began the SER
vice of a three-year sentence imposed
upon him more than year ago by
Judge Ernest Gary on an indictment
charging him with receiving stolen
goods, a part of the S6,S3S.8l taken
from the wrecked safe of the Courte-
NAV Manufacturing company at Newry,
Oconee county. on the night of De-
cember IA 1903. Rabens was brought
| to Columbia from Walhalla by l.. M.
Presley, of the penitentiary guard,
reaching here on the $40 train yester-
day afternoon. He was driven TO the
pen Immediately upon the arrival or
| the train, where he was photographed,
and a thorough description made OF
him for the future use of the state and
United States authorities. After hav-
| ing his hair clipped, given shave and
bath and brand new suit OF stripes,
| he was registered as mo. 1873 ana
consigned to a cell. For the first time,
possibly. since his connection with
the noted McKinley-Nolan gangs of
safeblOwerS. Rudy" yesterday reallZ-
ed that he was not beyond the power
of the law. He appeared broken IN
spirit on entering the big steel gates OF
the prison, and his gray eyes sought
fnfrnri1nnflNy
they would shoot a quick, nervous
glance at some one Of the officials
standing around. His long legal fight
had been made in vain and. he turned
to face the three long years Of i'm
prisonment with shrug Of the shoul-
ders and an unmistakable feeling OF
utter hopelessness. He had come, at
last, to face what he dreamed that his
ill-gotten gain would alone prevent
His panama was laid away ana the
regulation cap took its place: his all
leather suit case was sent down 10 the
commissary to await his departure
three wears hence; his bank book was
pigeon-holed and the generous amount
Of loose coin and currency which he had
in his pockets was placed to his credit
in the office, and the wonted blind IT,
ger, near-yegg and erstwhile King
street crook, No. 17753, Is today moth
ing more, nothing less, than convict,
entering upon a sentence which Will
doubtless prove a lesson to those OF
wealth and influence who imagine that
they may violate the laws Of the land
with impunity. There has been such
a swift succession of unexpected plays
in the RabenS case within the past
week that this man has been all but
overwhelmed with surprise. The plans
of himself and his astute counsel came
to naught in the game that opened at
Walhalla Monday when he surrender
ed himself and announced that he was
ready to begin sentence. Contrary to
the expectations of Solicitor Boggs, In
spector Gregory and others interested
in the case, Rabens was sent 10 the
Oconee county poor farm, where there
are absolutely no facilities for safe
guarding a prisoner Of Rabens' type.
The people of Oconee county did not
want Rabens to work out his sentence
there; they wanted him sent to the
state penitentiary. Rabens turned
over to Supervisor McAlister $4,000 In
cash, to be kept in the county treasury
as a guarantee of his orderly conduct
and safety. It was announced that
Rabens had been examined by phy-
sician and declared to be unable to do
any manual labor. In short, it appear
ed that his punishment was to be
nothing but farce; that he was TO
live in ease at the county'S expense.