Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-07-23
IN

shame to take the money.
Apparently Walters unnamed con-
federates were just as "easy" as the
bank, for, he said, he slipped out OF
Canada without keeping an engage
ment he made with them, at which
time he was to have given them their
share of the spoils. His pay for his
half hours work was $4,000; not
a shot was fired, nor did a soul sus-
pect that robbery had been COM
mitted until the janitor the next
morning set about cleaning up the
bank preparatory to it's days busi-
ness.
dria, Va, was Of immense value to
Walter as gay cat" He had won
derful powers of divination when
sent out to "locate" a job, and
whereas in some cases the men at
work on the safe he had selected for
blowing were surprised at their task
and compelled to battle their way to
freedom, yet in every case they es-
capped unscathed.
A Crucial Moment.
This held true in the looting Of tho
Offices of a laundry and -four mill
at Middlesboro, Mass, where Walter,
Johnny" Mccarthy (West Philadel-
phia Johnny") and "Bellefontaine.
Slim" escaped after twice staring
death in the face. The safe of the
-four mill readily yielded to the ex.
plosive's blast and about $50 was
procured. The laundry was next
visited, and while the "cracksmen"
were at work on the safe the night
watchman peered in at the door. A
shot from Walters pistol caused him
to beat a hasty retreat.
He ran only far enough to take Eef-
uge behind protecting angle in the
wall, when his pistol began to bark
out its alarm as he sent bullet after
bullet in the direction Of the bur
glars.
Before Walter and his associates
could make their way to the street
| the air was so smoke laden that even
| the rays from their pocket flash
lights could not penetrate it. Seve-
raj persons gathered outside the
laundry and as the burglars sped
| across the street they opened fire on
them. At this juncture of the chase.
johnny" dropped the rubber pouch
containing enough nitroglycerine to
blow a dozen safes.
In telling OF his experiences after
ward "Johnny" said both nc and
Walter Confidently expected to be
blown into eternity, and to thia day
neither cau explain why tne soup
did not explode. All got away scot
free and Walter arrived at the con-
clusion that the Sunny South held
inducements Of far greater promise
than the "Frozen North" where
watchmen and nearby citizens always
/ sleep with one eye open, could offer.
Accordingly Walter made tracks
| for the South, and after visiting cro-
nies in New York city, Baltimore,
Washington and Norfolk he made
his way to Charleston, S. c., where
he spent a week in wild revelry at
the dives conducted by Rudolph Ra~
bens, a notorious fence and ally
to bank and post Office burglars
| Whenever such finished workmen as
Walter portland Ned" West
Philadelphia Johnny" "Kentucky
Billy" and connecticut Shorty"
| banded for killing something far
out of the ordinary might be expect
ed. Soon after Walters flight from
! the North, end at d time when MS
last dollar had been spent in one Of
Rabens's dance halls, he and his four
companions in crime decided to loot
the bank at Brunson, S. C. The job
| looked easy from every angle.
The safe, although of an ancient
pattern, was so well built and Of such
good material that it resisted the
several blasts that were applied. Out
done by the stubborn resistance Of
the strong box, Walter volunteer to
procure a drill with which 10 make
a larger opening near the combina-
tion disk.
A COlOred Guide.
In scouting around he entered a
carriage house near the bank. There
he found a strapping young negro
sound asleep. Walter awakened the
sleeper by pressing the muzzle Of his
| DlStOl tO hiC phnnL Tha
too frightened to cry out or to offer
resistance Then in few well chosen
| and terse sentences Walter COM