Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-10-21
BOB BELCHER ESCAPES GANG.
Left Barn Where He Was Working,
and Didn't Return.

Bob Belcher, who has for some
time been confined on the county
chain gang, serving 20-year SEN
tenCe, having been convicted of muir
der, escaped from the county poor
farm last Wednesday afternoon,
where he had been temporarily con-
fined at the StoCkade on account Of
minor illness. He was originally
sentenced to life imprisonment, but
the sentence was later commuted to
20 years. SO far no definite clue as
to his whereabouts has been secured,
but he has been heard of since his
flight. He stopped Wednesday night
at house on Poor Mountain, where
he stated that he was cotton mill
worker. and that the mill at which
he had been employed had closed
down, throwing him out OF work, and
that he was on his way to Georgia to
secure employment. Since then,
however, it is stated that he has been
tracked back towards Walhalla, but
nothing definite has come from this
source.
Belcher and another convict were
in the barn Git being rainy day.
shucking corn. Steward Cobb was on
another part Of the farm. Belcher
told his fellow-cOnvict that he was
tired Of Shucking corn and that he
was going 10 another place on the
farm 20 get some peas to shell. He
went by the stockade and secured his
citizens clothes and left for parts un-
known, the other convict thinking
Belcher had secured sacks in which
to gather the peas, he having put his
clothing in n sack.
Supervisor Foster has offered a re-
ward Of $25 for, the capture Of Bel
cher. He describes him as follows:
Age 26, height feet 10 inches,
weight about 160; dark hair, hair
low down on neck and forehead; sal
low complexion; straight, pointed
nose; thin lips; thin, dark beard. or
clean shaven; rather tall and slen-
der; stoop-shouldered; long neck;
head dropped forward; has very Pc
culiar, slow, slouchy walk; cheap
clothes. Will scarcely notice or speak
to any one; has very bad counte-
nance"
Belcher was implicated in the muir
der Of thea GDibins, he aud, hiSAmoe
|ther, Lou Belcher, being convicted
along with Charlie Palmer and j. b.
Palmer father Of Lou and Charlie,
and grandfather OF Belcher.
The entire Palmer family, with the
exception of Mrs. ]. b. Palmer and
Alethi.. Palmer, were convicted in the
State Courts, receiving varying SEN
tences. j. B. Palmer, on account Of
age and being a Confederate veteran,
was relieved OF his sentence in the
State Courts by the presiding Judge.
Lou Belcher and Charlie Palmer
were pardoned by Governor Blease,
hnt MI aI In fol t,l L..
tody, along with j. b. Palmer and
Alethia Palmer. by the Federal au-
thorities, all but Alethia being con-
victed at Greenville OF conspiracy
against Federal officers in the dis
charge OF their duties. Alethia Pal
mer was acquitted on this charge.
j. B. Palmer served out his sentence
in the Atlanta Federal Prison, and
Charlie Palmer is now there, while
Lou BelcheT Is still confined in the
South Carolina penitentiary. She
was convicted in the Federal Court
and sentenced to term Of eight
years at Fort Leavenworth, Kans.,
but she pleaded to be sent to the
South Carolina penitentiary to be
with her son, Bob Belcher, and this
arrangement was made with the
State authorities. About a year ago
Belcher was brought back to Oconee
and placed on the county works. 1t
Is said that he has made an ideal
convict.
j. B. Palmer and his daughter Ale
thia now reside in West Union. These
two comprise the tota! Of the family
free from Court restraint. Mrs. Pal
mer, wife Of j. b. Palmer, died some
two years ago.