Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-12-29
RUDOLPH RABEss ASKS PARDON
Was Convicted I'm Oconee and SEN
-. fenced to Three Years.
Columbia State, 2sth.)

columbia State, 2Sth.) -
Petitions from Charleston and Oco-
nee counties for the pardon Of II.
Rudolph Rabens have been filed with
Governor Ansel. Rabens was con-
victed in 1907 in oconee county on
the charge OF receiving stolen goods
in connection with the robbery OF the
Courtenay Manufacturing Company
Of Newry, In which Mccarthy, a not
ed safe-cracker, and several other
yeggs were the principals.
Rabens was given three years. The
case was appealed to the Supreme
Court, but the decision of the lower
court was affirmed. Rabens was not
present at his trial, he being out on
a $4,000 bond. An unusual feature
of the case Is that Rabens is now
under bond of $1,000, although he
is In the State penitentiary.
A pathetic letter from his mother
was received with the petitions.
At the trial Mccarthy, the reform
ed safe-blower, testified against Ra-
bens, and upon his testimony ver-
dict Of guilty was returned.
Rabens was convicted in his alb
sence at the spring term of the GRIM
inal court Of Oconee county. a sealed
sentence was left with the clerk of
court Of that county. The charge
against him was that he received and
disposed OF the goods secured by the
yeggs when the safe Of the Courtenay
Manufacturing Company was blown
open at Newry.
Rabens was arrested on the charge
several months before the case came
to trial and was placed under bond
of $4,000. When the case was call
ed he did not appear. There was
something unusual about the disap-
pearance of the indictment and Judge
Gary acted with much firmness. A
verdict Of guilty was found and no.
tice Of appeal to the Supreme Court
was filed. He was bonded pending
the appeal. The verdict Of the lower
court was affirmed. For some time
afterwards Rabens was at large and
the officers of the State and Inspector
Gregory were on the watch for him.
In July, 1907, he surrendered to the
sheriff of Oconee county.
Rabens was once resident of
Walhalla and a locomotive engineer,
but left that place when a youth and
"S'S " Nhoi " llcle llc dCuulI-
ed small fortune by the operation,
it is alleged, of corner grocery
store" and the Star Theatre" of that
city.
1t was charged that he acted as
agent or fence for the band of
yeSgS which ran rife in the up-coun-
try for several years, and that he
would dispose of the plunder, such as
stamps, money of large denomina-
tionS and Silverware and jewelry Sc
curel by robbing banks, post offices.
and residences. 1t was also charged
that he was the "brains," or the
man who planned robberies and
gave the band notice when large
sums of money were deposited in diff
ferent banks of the Piedmont section
of the State. AT the time of the trial
the case attracted great deal of
attention.
Mccarthy, the reformed safe
blower, has given TESTIMONY which has
convicted great many crooks and
in every instance his evidence has
been corroborated by circumstances.
An account Of the sentence of Ra-
bens says: "Supervisor McAlister re-
fused to accept Rabens on the coun-
ty works and requested that he be
sent to the State penitentiary. 1t was
finally arranged, however, that Ra-
bens is to go on the county works,
while his $1,000 remains on deposit
in the Peoples Bank as guarantee
OF good behavior. In attempt to get
away, sullenness or the giving of any
trouble whatsoever by Rabens to the
county overseers or Steward w. r.
Cobb, the $1,000 Is to be taken and
forfeited to the county. The forfeit
OF $4,000 which has been up as a
bond for his appearance will remain
in the future as guarantee of good
behavior while Rabens is serving his
three years. 1t is understood that
Rabens is to receive the interest on
the deposit Of $1,000"
(Note.-Rabens stayed on the Oco-
nee county works only a few days,
when he was brought back to town
and turned over to the sheriff. and
was soon sent to the State peniten-
tiary, where he has been eve, since