Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-14
trio CONVICTED
WhISOnant, Bateman and Crisp Guilty
Of Attempting to Rob Alex Long, Jf.
WHISONANT MADE PLEA OF INSANITY

Young Rock HilIians Sought to Ge
Money from Wealthy Rock Hilliar
Through Bogus Officer Frame up
Ugly Story of Traffic in Women ir
County Metropolis Brought to Light
Interesting revelations relative to
Rock Hills underworld came to light
| Tuesday afternoon on account OF the
trial of the case of Clarence Whiso-
nant, Perry Blteman and Oliver Crisp
charged with conspiracy to rob Alex
ander Long, Jr., son of wealthy Rock
Hill textile manufacturer. The fact
that there are in Rock Hill numbers
of young white men who make a liv-
ing by soliciting for women of the un-
derworld was established during the
case, the three prisoners making no
denial that they engaged in such oc-
cupation as occasion might arise. At
ter a delibcration of more than four
hours the jury on Tuesday night re-
turned verdict of guilty as to all
three of the defendants. Clarence
Whisonant, alleged master mind of
the three in the conspiracy to rob
young Long who is said to be socially
prominent in Rock Hill, did not take
the stand in his own behalf. Intead
he sought to establish a plea OF in
sanity through his attorney. He al
most got away with it since one men,
Der of the jury hung the other eleven
for some time convinced that Whiso-
nant was not responsible. After much
discussion they agreed to return a
verdict of guilty against the trio.
Whisonant threw a fit in the county
Jail Wednesday; but nobody Witness
ed it but prisoners.
How it Started.
Alex Long, Jr., was the principal
witness for the state. He testified
that Clarence Whisonant met him in
Rock Hill, on June II and asked to
know if he would like to ride out and
meet some women. Long said he told
him he was agreeable. Whisonant
went to a nearby telephone to make
the necessary arrangements and later
in Longs automobile they drove out
towards Cherry Park on the Rock
Hill-Fort Mill road. According to
young Long, they were going about
twenty-five miles an hour on the con-
crete road when some one ordered
them to stop. saying that the speed
limit was being violated and bond
would have to be arranged. The man
who wGs unknown to Long said he
was n county officer, and that since
the machine was going 40 miles an
Back for the Money.
Long told the bogus officer that he
had no money but would get check
caShed in Rock Hill and bring it to
him. The officer hoped on behind the
car and got off a short distance away,
saying he would wait for the money.
According to Longs testimony he
went to police headquarters and in
formed the officers and Policeman
Boyd was dispatched to go back to
the scene of the hold up.
AS they were going up Oakland
Avenue some one hailed them. 1t was
Perry Bateman who, upon seeing Po-
liceman Boyd in the car cried to
Whisonant: your baby. has just
drunk a bottle of Kerosene"
The purity went to Whisonant's
house where it was found that neither
Mrs. Whisonant nor her baby were at
home and that there was nothing to
the kerosene story. Then the officer
arrested Bateman and carried him to
the police station. Oliver Crisp was
found sitting in car nearby and he
was ordered to the station.
Bateman was locked up for the
night while Crisp and Whisonant were
allowed to go home. The next day,
however, Bateman told it to the chief
saying that he and Crisp were to get
S5 each from Whisonant for framing
Long. Crisp had told Bateman to tell
Whisonant the story about the kcro-
sene according to Bateman's story to
the police chief. Later Crisp was ar
rested and admitted his knowledge OF
the frame-up but denied he was to
get any of the money
Constable Frank Allen testified that
Bateman pleaded guilty in magis-
trate's court in Rock Hill to q charge
of impersOnating an officer. a textile
worker named Pittman testified that
about a week or ten days prior to the
Long episode, Whisonant had asked
him if he didn't want to make some
easy money by sticking up" Long,
but he declined, saying he didn't want
any money that way.
Testimony for Whisonant.
c. w. +. Spencer, Esq, of Rock Hill
who was chairman of Local Exemp-
ton Board No. l for York county dur
ing the World war told of the trouble
he had with Clarence Whisonant while
the latter was under the authority of
the board. Whisonant, he said, had fl
finally been admitted into some kind of
limited service and was sent to n camp