Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-04-12
"RuDY" RAisHNs AND YEGGS.
Some Interesting History Recalled by
Blcasc'S Pardon to "EcnCe."
columbia State

was the prey or q Dand or ycBgS, or
safeblowers. 1t was learned from
Charleston that Governor Blease re-
Gently pardoned Rudolph Rabens,
the fence" for a number Of thugs
who operated in this State during
the Charleston exposition. In a re-
cent number Of the Saturday Even
ing Post Of this week was a clever
yegg story.
II. r. Gregory, tho special inspec-
tor Of the United States postal de-
partment, who put Rabens behind
the bars, and has likewise secured
sentences for moro than two score
Of thugs in the Carolinas and Geor-
gia, was in the city last week and
discussed with some reserve the RAJ
bens case. "Was Rabens merely a
fence to receive the stolen goods,
or was he implicated with the gang?"
Mr.. Gregory was asked.
Ralcns Was Wise.
He smiled reminiscently and de-
clared that Rabens had a joint in
Charleston, which was a rendezvous
for crooks, and that he actually
planned in part tho raid which caus-
ed him to spend a term in the peni-
Tertiary.
Rabens was convicted largely on
the testimony of John y. Mccarthy,
who detailed the robbery Of the safe
Of the Newry cotton mill in such q
manner that, when corroborating
circumstances were presented, the
jury found no trouble in arriving at a
verdict. The robbery occurred on
the 9Th Of December. 1908, and RAJ
hens was convicted three years later
on February 5, 1907. There were
three counts in the indictment, two
alleging felonious crimes and one al
leging a misdemeanor.
Two Indictments Outstanding.
a person indicted for a felony
must be present in person to be ar
raigned, and as Rabcns was not in
court he a tried in his absence on
the misdemeanor charge only. He
was convicted and sentenced to serve
three years. The indictments for
felony are yet outstanding against
him.
The whole case was Romantic in
the extreme, and the trial itself was
an exciting feature. On account Of
the fact hat Rabens lived in Char
lesion and that some Of the witnesses
lived at a distance, Solicitor Boggs
arranged for the preliminary hearing
to be held the day before the case
was to go to trial. Rabens was ar
rested the oath of January and gave
$4,000 bond to appear at the prelim-
mary, February 4. Magistrate Crisp
on thai date ordered the case to go
to trial owe the protest of defend
ants attorney hal no evidence had
been presented. The magistrate held
that the defendant, by his absence,
practically waived preliminary.
Judge Gary Firm.
An effort was made then to get
Judge Gary to grant a continuance
on the ground that one Of Rabens'
attorneys, coming from Charleston,
was indispoSed. But the trial was
ordered to proceed. Judge Gary di-
rected a new indictment drawn when
the original disappeared and this
disappearance was pleaded as a
ground for continuance. One OF the
attorneys for Rabcns in his brief be-
fore the Supreme Court showed re-
sentiment against the determination
OF Judge Gary, saying in part:
"ThiS cause is submitted in full
confidence that an examination OF tho
record will convince your honors tha,
the defendant has been deprived Of {
fair, regular and impartial trial. /
is far more important that the rcgu
lar and orderly administration O
criminal Justice should be observed
and enforced by the courts, so tina
the liberty Of the citizen might b,
secured, than that any one MAJ
should be convicted and punished"
The Star Witness.
John +. Mccarthy. the former ycga
who gave the evidence which con
Nictcd RabcHs, vas given a pardon b
the United States government and b
the Governors OF seven States 70
crimes committed in his career as
yegg. His confessions we're given tn
most searching scrutiny-and even
detail was found to have corrobora