The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-04
BIG SUM is SAVED
TOBACCO COMPANY
Partners in Business Are Mem,
bcrs Of Prominent Danville
Familics-Were Prepared to
Produce at Least $4,000
Worth Of Spurious
Paper.
Special to The mes-Dispatcl1. i

.tLA'pSSss@A ~ liS SI1uISo.l1lS:ldlC1.l
South Boston. Va, March 5.-one
OF the most sensational arrests ever.
recorded In the towns history took
place here this afternoon through In
formation furnished by Robert IL.
Bryan. manager OF the Virginia Print
Ing compa ny. OF this place, that there
existed in South Boston a printing
establishment conducted by John Thorn
ION. .Ir. and Lane Noell, both OF Dan
VILE. operated for the sole purpose Of
producing spurious Piedmont cigarette
coupons, redeemable by the premium
department. of the American Tobacco
Company. These coupons have a cash
value OF one-half cent each.
Upon a warrant sworn out by Mr..
Bryan. stating that he had reasons to
believe that John Thornton, Jr., who
was one fthe partners Of the establish
mcnt, had in his possession in room
at this place certain presses. electro
types. tools and materials for pro-
ducing the product above mentioned.
Oflcer Terry. accompanied. by Mr..
Bryan. searched the place, and there
4
found the goods as expected.
Thornton Pleads Guilty.
When this discovery was made
ease. being at. the baseball grounds.
some distance from the place. in COM
pany with friends, was found and ar
rested.
He pleaded guilty to the charge be-
fore Mayor W. H. Shepherd. who sent
him to the county jail at Houston to
await the action of the grand jury.
After committing Thornton, the
Mayor at once teiephoned the Chief OF
Police at panville asking him to arr
rest Lane Noell. Of that city, who
was connected with the est abli shment
mere, and asking rhat he bc- -f1eid- until
an officer from this place could arrive
to take him in charge. It was only
matter Of short time before Noell
was under arrest. and the authorities
here were notified.
An officer will be sent there to bring
Noell here tomorrow for appearance
before the Mayor on the same charge
as that OF Thornton. and his being
committed to the jail also is almost
assured.
Thornton and Noell had for many
weeks conducted Job printing office
here. though somewhat in secrecy. as
few persons were ever seen TO enter
the place.
Fall Outfit Found.
There had been little doubt among
many here that the establishment was
not doing a legitimate business. but
there was seemingly no possible means
of ascertaining the nature of their
work. No one other than Mr.. Bryan
attempted to solve the somewhat mys-
terious business being conducted.
Trial after trial on his part to enter
their secret chamber. in which the
work was conducted. was at last sue.
cessful. and to his surprise he found
all tile requisites for producing the
described product,
The coupons made were from plates
and on identically the same paper as
that used by the American Tobacco
Company. Thousands of pounds of this
specific paper was in the place, enough
at rough estimate, to make not less
than $4,000 worth of coupons. After
gaining such information as was neces.
sary Mr.. Bryan at once communicates
with officers of the American Tobacco
Company. and In response Messrs. Bell
OF New York City: Flowers, of Dur.
ham, ~. c., and Perkins. of Lynchburg
who are connected with this company
came here last night and commute
Gated at once with Attorney Charlie.
II. Morris. counsel for Bryan, who hat
his client meet with these men, ant
this meeting resulted In the arrests.
Both Thornton and Noell belong t,
very prominent families OF: Danvllle.