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The post
office at Richlands was burglarized on last Friday night, and about $100 in money and stamps taken. The burglars blew open the safe of Postmaster
SPRATT, using nitroglycerine, it is believed, and secured what money was therein, but left several registered packages. Entrance to the office was gained by prying open a door with a pick which was gotten from a section house nearby. The explosion was heard by several people living in the vicinity of the office, and the burglars were seen by several people, but darkness prevented the identity of the safe blowers being possible. One lady, who saw the men in the darkness thought there were four or five of them. The impression seems to prevail that the burglars who were engaged in the robbing of the North Tazewell
post office on November 3, 1908, were the same ones who were in the Richlands robbery. It is stated that Francis
DORNE, alias "Pennsylvania Fatty," and Harry MILLER, who were given a year in the federal prison at Atlanta, have long since finished their terms have been seen in this section within the past few weeks, and were doubtless among the robbers at Richlands. The Richlands robbery recalls the arrest and trial of the robbers of the North Tazewell
post office, who were arrested at the home of Mag LOWE, at North Tazewell, and the arrest of "Kentucky Joe" in Bluefield a short time afterwards. It is stated that special officers of the
post office department are on the trail of the robbers of the Richlands
post office.
The grand jury returned several indictments for minor offenses, among them being true bills against five young men of Clear Fork for disturbing public worship at Chestnut Grove church within the past year. Among the indictments were: R.G.
JOHNS, misdemeanor; Sam LAWSON, felony; John WOODS, Mrs. John
WOODS, Hamp WILES, Wild Bill for misdemeanor; Will COSBY, alias "Forty Four" for shooting John
SMITH; Ed ADAMS for selling liquor; John DILLS for "bootlegging" Liquor.
DILLS is already under sentence of the federal court at Big Stone Gap for a similar offense.
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