This is a nicely framed display featuring a South Carolina handbill from Anderson Court House (now Anderson,) seeking one “Bob Thomas,” a “notorious burglar and horse thief,” who had escaped from custody by jumping from a train between Alston and Littleton, South Carolina. In addition to breaking into stores and smoke-houses, Thomas had indulged in “many unlawful acts in adjoining states.” The notice is signed by John R. Cochran of Anderson Court House, who promises to pay fifty dollars reward to anyone who can arrest and confine Thomas.

The broadside, measuring 8 ¾ by 12 ¼ inches, is not dated, but is nicely matted with an 1853 dated fifty-dollar bill, such as Cochran might have paid, from the Farmers and Exchange Bank of Charleston, and an 1846 map of South Carolina by Mitchell, measuring 13 ¾ by 11 ¼  inches, which might have proved useful to Thomas. The frame overall is 32 ½ x 36 inches.

We don’t know the outcome of Cochran’s search, but he had his work cut out for him. Cochran mentions that Thomas not only jumped from the train to escape his custody, but was blind in one eye and was wearing handcuffs when he did it.  [sr] [ph:L]

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