The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1925-04-09
TRIO OF ELDERLY PEOPLE
WERE VICTIMS OF BANDITS
William Drane and His Two Sis
tiers, Residing Near McHenry,
Brutally Treated and Robbed

Another outrage upon residents Of
Garrett county was committed last
Saturday night about eleven o'clock
and as a result there are four men
confined in the Garrett County Jail
in Oakland who have, since their ar
rest, made written confessions of the
crime they committed against the
peace and dignity of the State which
confession is now in the hands of Mr..
William R. Offutt, States Attorney,
and will be used against them in the
criminal court when they are brought
to trial in June next.
The men are James, Henry and
Meshech Preston and Harry Schim-
minger, all of Homecoming, Allegany
county. Their victims were Mr.. Will
liam Drane and his two sisters all be-
tween the ages of 70 and 76 years,
highly respected residents of the Nc
Henry community where they have
lived for more than half century.
From what can be learned from re-
liable sources concerning the outrage,
the Drane home was visited Saturday
night by three Of the four men in the
Jail here who, after entering the
home demanded money and other val
uables, at the same time fourishing
revolvers in the faces of Mr.. Drane
and his sisters. Mr.. Drane, who had
been to Oakland the day preceding
and withdrew from one of the banks
a small sum of cash, refused to dis
close its whereabouts notwithstanding
the fact that his life was threatened
by the bandits. He was then tied
hand and foot and the Misses Drane
subjected to rough usage when revol-
vers were thrust into their mouths
and like demands made upon them.
Their efforts being of no avail, a sys-
tematic search of the house was made
by the three men who located the
money-a sum slightly in excess Of
Rps50-and taking jackknife from the
= 0cl.et o. MI. Drane they left the
premises.
In the meantime car was observ-
ed standing alongside the roadway by
Rev. Clarence Fraker, the automobile
being occupied by stranger. Upon
being questioned by Mr.. Fraker the
occupant of the car gave evasive an
swers which at once aroused suspic-
ion that something was afoot. Co.
ing to McHenry Mr.. Fraker called to
his assistane his two sons and Messrs.
c. NJ. and Clarence Railey, who, arm
ed with revolvers and shotguns, re-
turned to the car at about the same
time that the three men who had been
at the Drane house arrived. The four
men questioned and being unable to
give a clear account of their actions
they were brought to Oakland and
turned over to Sheriff Yutzy, who
locked them up for the night.
1t was not until seven o'clock Sun
day morning that the officers of the
county learned of the outrage, when
a telephone message summoned Sher-
iff Yutzy to McHenry and going to
the Drane home he learned the facts
Returning to the Jail in Oakland the
prisoners were successfully questioned
and search of their clothing brought
to light the exact amount of money
stolen as we'll as the jackknife taken
from the person of Mr.. Drane, which
has later been identified by him. La
ter in the day a complete, detailed
confession of the matter was written
and signed by the prisoners.
They will be given a preliminary
hearing within a day or two and in
face of the confession will of course
be held for trial
The arrest of these men may throw
some light on a similar outrage COM
mitted at the Noah Pysell home near
McHenry some months ago when the
victim was subjected to the same
inhuman treatment undergone by Mr..
Drane and his sisters. The Pysell rob-
berry Melted the perpetrators quite a
large sum and no clue as to their
identity was discovered.
Sheriff Yutzy has expressed his ap-
probation of the assistance rendered
by the McHenry people in making it
Mspssible to apprehend these men and
/ els that if the residents of the COM
munities where lawlessness seems to
hold sway will act likewise Garrett
county will soon be rid of law break
ers and outsiders who deem this sec
ton good picking" will give it a
wide berth.