Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-03-05


from the front door on the second
floor and came down the steps. He
gave Birdie Walker, a negro woman
SO and declared to the officers that
she did not have anything to do
with the case.
Henry Dark Denies Story.
Henry Dark was brought in the
loom, and when the chief told him
what Thompson had said he became
extremely nervous and wrung his
hands continually. Thompson told
me details of the affair and when he
concluded Dark said: 81 don't know
anything about that money. The
hrst thing | knew happened yester-
DAY morning when Odell Thompson
opened the treasurer's office and
told me to look there"
Dark told the officers that he did
not go in the Court House Sunday.
lie went to church and from there
ne went home. He told the officers
that the two $40 bills they found
at his home had been saved from
his salary.
The negro Dark was put through
a. thorough examination, but he
maintained he was innocent. Officer
Ford reminded Dark that he met
Kim Sunday afternoon shortly after
Z O'Clock carrying a small package.
Dark said he wrapped some paper
around piece Of wood The officer
then told the negro that he saw him
several hours later coming from the
direction of the Court House with
another package. Dark told the
officers he had wrapped some paper
around lump Of coal. He then
said he got the stick of wood and
the lump of coal from the Court
House. The officers argued with
'iark about the size OF the package
hnd She size and waight Of 4 Stick
oi wood and a lump Of coal, but the
j"nitor stuck TO the story
After Dark had denied huviut.
any connection with the robbery
Chief Richardson told Thompson to
he fair and feel like he would rather
iurn than put blame on an innocent
man. If Dark was not connected
with the robbery to say so. Thomp-
son repeated his statement implicat-
ing Dark, and said ii was as true
as If it was his dying statement.
Talks About Third Man.
Thompson told the officers that he
firmly believes that there was
saw Henry Dark in the office Sunday
morning. Dark did not have any
dirt on his clothing and that indi-
Gated that he had not been on the
inside. He felt sure he heard a
noise on the inside while he and
Dark were together. Dark told him
to take the packages Of money and
he carried them to the basement of
Mr.. Walkers home and laid them
on q sill.
Thompson is about 25 years old
and has been janitor at the Court |
House for about one year.
Dark is 70 years old, one of the
f''w negroes in Columbia who votes |
The Democratic ticket, and has been |
tanitor for 10 years.
The two negroes were confined in |
the city Jail last night.
Talks About Finances.
p. B. Spigner, county treasurer,
was very much agitated yesterday.
excitement incident to the visit |!
y! several thousand people to take !
D. look at the hole in the vault and
the rush to pay county taxes caused |
he official annoyance and worry. |
Nr. Spfgner said he was stunned |
Wien he opened the Office yesterday |
morning and noticed the condition !
'f affairs. He realized at once that |
ne robbers had secured large |
OF money. He said he !
could not determine how much cash |
was in the vault, but the books ,
show that on January 81 the amount |
D. cash totalled $1,000. He csti-
mated that the vault contained be-
Ween $ 1000 and $4,000 when
he robbers entered the place.
1t was reported on the streets
yesterday that several jurors took
helr jury vouchers to the treasur-
rs Office last Friday to get the
cash and they were told to 20 to
The banks as the county had no
money. Mr. spigner explained that
he cash in the vault was money
objected on last years business
md no current accounts are paid
rom that fund The schools have
portion Of the amount on hand
md these vouchers may be cashed.
The jurors are to so to the bank,
rs tho 'e checks are posted against
he finances Of 1919. He under
,tood that the county commissioners
oad negotiated a loan, but had not
been officially notified so he could
enter the amount on his pass book.
Mr.. Spigner said he always
:arried q sum of money in the vault
10 accommodate people who came
With vouchers after banking hours.
lie made deposits once or twice
Zach week as occasions arose. The
)anks were closed Saturday and he
could not deposit, though he had
he money arranged for banking
purposes.
The county treasurer said he had