Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-14
ALL GENUINE YEGGMEN.
The Five Safe Blowers Recently Cap
tufCd at Van WyCk.
they ARE. WANTED FOR MANY CRIMES

they ARE. WANTED FOR MANY CRIMES
Complete Story of How the Men Were
Caught-Postoffiee Inspectors Have
Their Records-They Robbed the
PoStoffiee at Dunn, N. c., and Also
Blew Safes In South carolina-Trial
at Raleigh, N. c.
John T. Meehan in Charlotte Observer
Lancaster, February lin charge
of United States deputy marshals, and
accompanied by Postoffice Inspectors
H. T. Gregory, M. o. Halverstadt and
j. w. l3ulla, the gang Of professional
safe blowers recently captured at Van
Wyck, in this county, were taken from
the county jail today and carried to
Raleigh, y. c., to await trial at the
May term of the United States court
at Raleigh, on q charge Of burglariZing
the postoffice at Dunn, Harnett county,
North Carolina, on the night Of Decem-
Der 2Sth, 1907. This bunch Of "yeggs
lis as follows: J. T. Leonard, Charlie
Williams, James Scanlon, c. F. Shaw
and Henry s. Hallan. The preliminary
hearing in the Dunn case was held at
Lancaster on January 30th and the re-
moval of the men to Raleigh was un-
der the direction Of United States Mar
shall ]. d. Adams, upon an order sign
ed by Judge William H. Brawley of
Charleston, S. C.
The capture Of these professional
cracksmen was effected in most sem
sational and fearless manner on the
evening of January Sth by nine citizens
Of Van Wyck, viz: J. A. Hyatt, T. K.
Thompson, J. G. Starnes, D. f. Starnes,
Walter Starnes, S. H. Ezzell, Ben God
frey, Junie McGurt and Cecil Yoder.
The "yeggs" were heavily armed and
had with them up-to- date safe crack
ling equipment sufficient to puff half
dozen safes, a grip which they carried
containing nitro -glycerine, dynamite,
dynamite caps, fuses, laundry soap,
tools, pocket maps, etc.
Or December 18th Inspectors Greg
ory and Halverstadt sent out conf
dental circular letter to postmasters
in South Carolina, including the post
master at Van Wyck, warning them to
be on the lookout for suspected postof-
flee burglars and advising them as to
what action to take in case any Of these
suspects should appear in their vicin-
tiles a description Of two Of the sus-
poets accompanying the letter. The
postmaster at Van Wyck communicated
to the merchants Of that town the in
formation contained in the letter and
their prompt and effective sction in the
case of the above named parties re-
suited therefrom.
The five men appeared at Osceola, S.
c., on the morning Of January Sth, go
ing in the direction of Van Wyck. They
created suspicion and their presence
was reported to Mr.. ]. A. Hyatt, post
master at Van Wyck. The men reach
sd ivan wyck between and o'clock
on the same afternoon, three Of them
continuing down the railroad past the
station, while Leonard and Williams
stopped and purchased some food at
the store Of Massey, Hyatt & Co. They
also entered two other stores, that of
Thompson Bros. and Yoder Bros, the
postoffice being located in the latter
store. Leonard was observed to be
taking a thorough survey Of the sit
uation After making their purchases
the two men left Van Wyck, walking in
the direction that their companions had
gone. One of the three men who passed
Through the town without stopping car
ried valise.
Immediately after the departure of
Leonard and Williams the postmaster
and other citizens Of Van Wyck began
getting a posse together to effect their
capture. From the engineer on the
northbound train it was learned that
the five men were about one mile south
Of the station, sitting on the ground
near the railroad track. Shortly after
ward it was learned through section
foreman that the men had gone out
from the railroad into a ravine, where
they had built a campfire and were
eating supper. The posse of nine
men, well armed, proceeded to point
near the place where the men were in
hiding and here they separated, three
of the posse making a detour around a
hill so as to flank the men should they
try to make their escape. The other
members Of the posse remained in the
railroad cut until their companions had
taken up their position then they came
out, crawed up the high embankment
overlooking the ravine and ordered the
five men to surrender. The men got up
very slowly and then started off In the
opposite direction, but finding them
selves confronted on that side and fac
ing dangerous looking guns they turned
and came out to the railroad in single
file. With their hands in the air, the
five men were marched to point in the
cut where they were disarmed, 3S-
calibre revolver being taken from
| Leonard, WlllldlllS dIli oSdiiloi' anu q
32- calibre revolver from Shaw, all lat
est improved weapons and loaded all
around. Hallan, who is one-armed
man, had no revolver Leonard carried
the small valise, which was locked, in
his left hand
The men were taken very much by
lsurprise when they ascertained that
there were but nine men in the posse.
They evidently thought that the woods
were full Of men as Leonard remarked
while they were being searched: Gen
tlemen, we thought there were too
many against us or we would have CIV
en- you battle"
After being disarmed. the men were
marched to the store of Massey, Hyatt
& Co.. where posse stood guard over
them until morning. On reaching the
store Leonard remarked: Gentlemen,
for the good Of us and yourselves and
the building please handle that valise
carefully" At the request of men,
Der of the guard. Leonard produced a
key and the satchel was unlocked and
the contents examined. BY way of eX-