Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-07-09

dTOuSlHS SuSplClOn.
In the same pouch were upward OF
| fifty other registered packages, and
, these contained sums ranging from
500 to $500 each. 1t was esti-
mated at the time that the robbery
had netted the bandits a sum approx
imating $4,000, and, naturally, the
government bestirred itself to find
| the thieves the moment the hold-up
| was reported upon the trains arrival
I at Kansas City.
Under Cover.
Meanwhile Stevenson and his ac-
completes put as great distance be-
| tween themselves and the scene of
the hold-up as possible. They dared
not take to the railroad, for they
knew that every passenger or tramp
travelling over that road that night
would be marked and made to give
good account of himself. There
fore their only safety lay in keeping
to the woods, and, furthermore, in
the event of capture due care must
be taken that no money should be
found on them.
One of the smaller packages was
ripped open and the cash taken from
it was equally divided among the
three. Stevenson agreed that he
would "plant"-or bury-the ma
jor portion Of the loot until such
time as the hunt for the robbers had
grown less eager, when the would
meet at some designated rendezvous
and return and "lift" the plunder
and equally divide it.
After lapse of several months
the two men who participated in the
robbery with Savage were captured.
They confessed their part in the
hold-up, but naturally shifted the
blame for the whole affair to Saw
! ages shoulders, saying that they had
merely been employed by him to aid
in the execution Of the plot, which
had been mapped out weeks ahead.
immunity was promised the captives
provided they led their captors to
the hiding place Of the golden horde,
and this chance they eagerly seized.
Although a diligent and careful
search was made Of every inch of the
ground where the negro was seen to
Dury his loot no trace Of it could be
round. The postal authorities, con-
Vlnced OF the sincerity Of their pris-
oners' desire to make restitution.
continued the search for weeks. but
evidently the negro had chosen we'll
the spot where he dug the grave for
his plunder.
Shadowed by Detectives.
Finally the two prisoners were set
at liberty, the detectives determininp
to shadow them and keen them unG.,r
constant surveillance in the hone
they would lead them to Savage's
lair. But apparently they were as
much in the dark as to the whera.
a"outs or TIA negro as the detectives
themselves, so this lead was soon
abandoned.
Inc TWO prisoners vanished. and
all traces of them were lost.
IL was not until a year later that
stevenson was captured. The police
ana detectives were convinced thew
mad good case against him and
TOOK immediate steps to bring him
TO trial. After putting him through
a rigorous inquisition it was pronos-
ed that in the event of his leading
the detectives to the hiding place Of
the mail pouch his captors would in
terest themselves in his behalf and
procure clemency for him when SEN
tence was meted out to him. But the
negro stlll protested his innocence.
Stoutly MAINTAINING that tho two men
who had been liberated had sworn
ana, furthermore, he defied the two
mail clerks to identify him. Their
Identification was not as thorouph as
the authorities had hoped for, and
aiter being kept in a cell for severaI
months stevenson was released. But
not FOR a second did the detectives
allow MIN to get out of their sight.
For months he was trailed and his
every step dogged. ~
A Willy Negro.
Apparently the negro was oitber
aware OF this or else smart enougn
to anticipate such a move, for he wes
clrcumspect in his every action and
not clew did he provide for the
men who so relentlessly trailed him.
Weeks stretched into months, and
still the negro made no move that
LED the detectives Il step nearer the
hiding place of the money. They
inquired that as long as Stevenson was
at llDerty there was always a chance
or MS returning to the hiding place
IN an attempt to flee with his loot.
FOR this reason other charges that
hung over him, any one Of which thew
could convict him on, were allowed
to go impressed, and the negro was
still free to go and come as he
pleased.
But Stevenson was not to be
caught mapping. AS dearly as he
loved money and all the luxuries it
brings he smothered the desire to res
urrect his buried treasure and set
ABOUT to earn a living as best he
could. 1t was the first time he had
done stroke Of work since he fled
MS JOB as an elevator attendant in
the salt Lake City building, which
enabled him to rob at pleasure the
post office Of the Mormon capital. He
stuck diligently to his job and soon
made himself invaluable as captain
OF bell bows in q EanXer .hntnl mhnrn