The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-07-16
STATE PRISON FOR RABENS
UNABLE TO DO WORK REQUIRED
AT OCONEE POOR FARM.
Grand Jury Recommends that he
be Transferred to State PriS-
on at Columbia.

Walhalla, July 1U.-RuQOlpQ nd
bens will be behind the bars at the
State penitentiary tomorrow. Be-
fore the sessions court closed efforts
were made to have Rabens transferr-
ed from the county works to the State
penitentiary. Judge Prince, how
ever, held that he could not vary the
terms of the original sentence in the
Rabens case, which was that he
should serve three years on the pub
lie works of Oconee county or in the
State penitentiary, but held that Ra-
bens was entitled to choose where he
would serve his sentence. Rabens
chose to work on the public works
here rather than to serve in the pen
itentiary, and accordingly was sent
to the poor farm to labor under Stew
art w. R. Cobb. Shortly after Ra-
bens reached the poor farm, how
ever, he stated he was unable to per-
form hard labor, as he is suffering
from a rupture and the effects of a
pistol ball wound. He carries a
mark of a forty-four calibre pistol
ball on one of his legs, and the effects
of the wound, he says, interfere ma
terially with his locomotion, and
hence he is unable to perform the
hard labor usually assigned to con-
victs. Upon this report coming to
Supervisor McAllister he immediate
ly began paving the way to get Ra-
bens into the penitentiary. Then
came the presentment to the grand
jury recommending that Rabens be
sent at once to the penitentiary.
This recommendation seems to be
in accord with public sentiment. Ra-
bens appeared in Walhalla time or
two, neatly and carefully dressed,
driving the country farm wagon and
placidly smoking cigar. This nat
urally attracted attention and the
idea grew and spread that Rabens
was in for three years Of ease and
pleasure at the county's expense.
To-day that expression is current
from one side of the county to the
other and there Is much bitter feel
ing in some quarters by reason OF It.
Early this morning, however, Rabens
was brought to town and lodged In
Jail, under the care of Sheriff Kay,
who telegraphed Immediately to the
penitentiary authorities that Rabens
is in custody awaiting guard to
come up for him. L. M. Presley, of
the penitentiary guards, reached
Walhalla at 8 o'clock and at $3.50
tomorrow morning will carry Ra-
bens down to Columbia. and Satur-
day afternoon will find him regis
tered atthe penitentiary for the three
years term.
When seen to-day Rabens was in
rather q sullen mood and had little
to say. When told that he would
have to go to the ;penitentiary he on
/ ly remarked: "Well, II I have to go,
III guess I'll have to-" Beyond this
he did not care to talk and seems to
be considerably disturbed over the
turn his case, has taken.
The fact that he will go to the PEN
itentiary is the solution that will suit
the greater portion Of the people OF
this county. Rabens has but seen
the beginning Of his troubles in the
general belief.
When his three years are up he
will be Immediately nabbed by the
Uuited States authorities and han
died on several charges in connection
with postofice robberies. Inspector
Gregory was here yesterday and has
been as vigilant as is his custom In
all such cases.
Campbell Courtenay, Of the Coarte-
nay Manufacturing company, was
here yesterday and to-day and insti-
tuted attachment proceedings against
Rabens's FIVE thousand dollars on de-
posit at the Peoples bank, so that
the lines have been tightened not on
| ly on Rabens, but on his purse strings
! as well.