The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-24
FATHER KILLS SON.
The Youth Plans to Brighten the
Elder Man by Playing Bandit
wAYLAID Hin IN LONELY SPOT
And is Killed Before He Can Cry
Out. Father Plungcs
Knife Into the Boys
Heart.

At Riverside, N. j., Frank Rein
ecke, boy Of sixteen, played that he
was highwayman Wednesday night
and did 1t 80 realistically that his
father, whom he held up, plunged O
knife into his heart, killing him.
Intercepting his parent in a lonely
spot upon the banks OF Rancocas Creek
he suddenly stepped from behind q
bush, telling Reinecke, Sr., to hold up
his hands. The next instant he was
lifeless.
Thursday the father is raving in
delirum, and it is feared that he may
never recover from the shock. The
mother and sisters are prostrated, and
the little community mournS the
death Of popular youth.
Half dozen holdups have occurred
at Riverside and the adjoining villages
within a month or so, and the resi-
dents have been generally arming
themselves. The place is on the Am
boy division Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, but twelve miles from Camden.
and large numbers Of tramps pass
along on their way to and from Phila-
delphia and New York. The recent
crimes have been attributed tc these
wanderers.
Frank Reinecke conceived the idea
that it would be fine thing to mas
querade as highwaYman and Tighten
his neighbors. He carried out his
idea and succeeded in making half a
dozen staid residents jump fences and
scuttle for home within a week
Thursday night he tried the expert
ment upon his father, Walter Rein
ecke, well-to-do insurance agent Of
that place, whose home Is on the out
skirts of the village, above the banks
of the creek, in a lonely spot.
Father and son started out early In
the evening, the older to transact some
business at the village fire company's
house, of which Organization he Is a
member, and the boy to visit his
young friends, Willie and Laura
Kellock, who live near the Reinecke
home. On the way the youth regaled
his father with StoriesS of recent
holdups.
When 10:30 p. m. came Mr.. Rein
ecke started for home. He was ap;
prehensiye, remembering that he had
recently had words with negro, who
had threatened him. He also remems
bered what his boy had told him about
highwaymen. So he drew IA large
Knire rom mis- pocKet, penad tiIe
blade and walked on with senses 6n'
the alert. Young Relnecke had boon
watching for his father. He. was
peeping out from behind a bush that
stood beside the path in the loneliest
part Of the roadway. The trees grow
thick there, and the black water of
the creek is just below, making it as
loneley and dangerous a spot as can
be imagined.
Just as the elder Reinecke reached
the shadow a dark figure stepped into
the half gloom and hoarse voice
cried: Hold up your hands. Now
I've got YOU"
AT the same instant the figure laid
fast hold upon the frightened mans
coat sleeve. With cry Of terror the
father lunged forward and buried Us
knife in the breast Of the supposed
highwayman, who sank to the ground
gaSping, oh. Father"
The voice of the boy recall the
anguished father to realization Of the
awful thing that he had done. With
cry that was heard far OFF by neigh
bors the distracted man fell on his
knees beside the body of his boy and
besought him to speak. He raised the
head of the boy only to find that he
was already dead