UNION, S.C. (7/19/95) -- Linda Greer had feared for months that someone would park a truck filled with explosives outside of her window at the Union County Courthouse.

But when a bomb threat rolled in Tuesday afternoon, the deputy clerk in the probate judge's office was surprisingly calm.

"I thought it was a hoax," said Greer. "I never believed it."

Greer attributes her coolness to the heightened security around the courthouse. "I just feel really secure."

But that didn't keep her and roughly 400 other employees, reporters and Susan Smith trial participants from evacuating the building just after 4 p.m.

Smith, on trial for the murder of her children, was whisked away by State Law Enforcement Division agents to the Union City Jail. She was later taken to the York County Detention Center, where she has been held during the trial.

Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh said a man called the recreation department, down the street, and said that a bomb had been left in the courthouse.

Sheriff Howard Wells said about an hour later that the bomb threat was an apparent prank, but "we do take it seriously."

He said it would have been extremely difficult to get explosives into the building, considering that state and local police officers have been monitoring traffic in the courthouse since the beginning of the Smith trial last week.

"I'm not saying it's not possible," the sheriff said, adding that he does not yet know how the incident will affect access into the courthouse, which has been virtually unlimited on the first floor.

Clerk of Court June Miller said she was pleased with the reaction of her fellow courthouse employees.

"It was well organized," said Miller.

Wells said his office and SLED will investigate the origin and purpose of the threat.

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