The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-07
POSSE CAPTURES BURGLAR.
PRISONER TELLS OF BOLD
STORE ROBBERY.
Names Several Chase
In Automobile Exciting-Others
OF Gang likely to be Apprehendcd
Guilty of Other Crimes?

Bamberg. July 2.-The right trail
In the robbery case. which occurred
here Wednesday night. has been
struck and a regular thieveng band
has been discovered. There are Ave
members, one of them is now in Jail
In Bamberg. and the others are be-
Ing pursued by posses in two direc-
tions A chase today of several hours
resulted in a futile effort to capture
Dan Jeter, Jr., one Of the band, who,
when last seen. was making toward
Savannah. The others are being look
ed for and dogs are being tried on
the trail, apparently at this time,
without much success.
Frank Bennett, the negro who was
captured, gave the officers a good
chase and afforded plenty of oppor-
tunity for the display of the ingenuity
Of the man-hunters from Bamberg,
Denmark and the surrounding coun-
try Late yesterday afternoon some
parties In Sato telephoned to Dem
mark that five negroes. each with
sack on his back, had been seen pass
ing through that place.
Word was communicated to Mr.. H.
j. Brabham, Jr., whose store was
robbed, and he, with others, left for
Denmark at once. There were prob
ably ten automobiles, all we'll filled
with men, which took up the search.
The negroes were spotted by Mr..
T.. c. Bruce. a salesman for Mr.
Brabham. and when he. with Mr..
Hutto of Denmark. started to make
the arrests, the negroes ran. The
rursuers fired at the fugivities, but
without any known result. 1t is re-
ported by some that the fleeing me-
81 oes returned the fire at one time,
when the posse was hot on their trail
frank Bennett was captured after a
chase which lasted, perhaps, three or
four hours. He did not make any re-
sistance when caught. seeing the odds
were greatly against. It is said that
Mr.. w. s. cooptr, mayor of Denmark.
feared that some violence might be
attempted and seemed to think that
an effort would be made to lynch the
negro. Members Of the posse state
that there never was any threat
made. and that no one seemed to be
Inclined to offer violence. The pris-
oner was brought to Bamberg in a
touring car and lodged in Jail. He
told who his partners were and how
they operated. Since hearing his
version of the affair, the boldness of
the thieves seems still more surpris.
Ing than II seemed at first.
According to Bennett they entered
Mr. Brabham's store, which is on the
lower end of Main street, about .
O'Clock, he being the one set to watch
for any passerby. They used about Il
box of matches during the time the,
were inside, and were about an hour
and half in completing their lob.
They spent yesterday at house in
the country and were making for
Denmark to catch through freight
ID Savannah when discovered.
This crowd is doubtless the same
which has been doing so much of
this kind Of work in this section for
so long. 1t is even possible that this
same crowd had something to do with
the wrecking of the passenger train
near Denmark short while ago. 1t
Is suspected that this gang had some
hand in the robbery Of the automo-
bile and bicycle repair shop of Mr..
j. b. Brickle a few weeks ago, for
the pistol found on BENNETT has
been identified by Mr.. Brickle as the
one stolen from him.
1t is said that Jeter, the negro who
was chased so long today, is q son
OF Daneel Jeter. Sr., the Republican
chairman In this section.
The names of the party said to
compose the gang are as follows:
Frank Bennett, Jim Williams. Dan
Jeter, Jr., Henry and Levi HAYNES.
All OF them except Williams have
been living in this territory for wears
and are we'll known.