West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-12-05

HELD UP THE BUGGY AT TIKI POINT OF
sHorGUNs.
William Knapp, paymaster of the
Worthen & Aldrich bleacherles at Del
awanna, and his driver, George Cum
mings. with whom Mrs. Hester had
exchanged greetings when they drove
by her house a minute before on the
way to the bleacheries with $1,000 I'm
cash, the weeks payroll for the mill
hands.
Mrs. Hester was alone In the house.
Too frightened TO run to n neighbor's
for assistance, she crouched at n win
dow and watched while the bandits
compelled Knapp and his driver to
step from their rig with hands raised
above their heads.
While three OF the men held their
captives at the point of their weapons
the fourth removed from the buggy
the small satchel in which Paymaster
Knapp had put the $1,000. Then he
deftly went through Mr.. Knapp's
pockets and removed the paymaster's
watch and a small revolver. This the
bandit laughingly held up to the deri-
sion of bis comrades,
When he had assured himself by
opening the satcbel that the, money
was actually I'M 80 this man waved his
hand to his companions, and Mrs. Hes
ter saw him cross the Union avenue
bridge over the Passaic river into East
rutherford. On the roadway not far
from the bridge stood covered deliv-
cry wagon, and to this the man ran,
losing his hat as he sprang over
fence. He did not stop for the hat,
but threw the satchel into his wagon
and jumping I'm himself, drove OF to-
ward Rutherford at rapid trot
Once their companion was out OF
sight the three bandits urged Knapp
and Cummings toward two big trees,
around which they compelled them to
put their arms and TO which they then
tied them with bits OF rope taken from
their pockets. Mrs. Hester then saw
the men shoulder their guns and walk
briskly of toward Passaic. They pass
ed her house, and the woman watched
them, fearful that they might molest
her, until they were out OF sight.
Then she suddenly regained her pres
ence of mind. Running 20 her tele-
phone. she called up police headquar-
ters In Passajc and told Chief OF Po-
lice William Hendry OF the holdup.
Next she ran up the road to where the
coptlves were making Intellectual strug-
giles TO escape and cut loose their
bonds. She told them OF having noti-
led the police, and Knapp and Cum
fnings started on run toward Pas
taic.
As they neared Aytridge avenue, on
Passaic avenue. the men heard the re-
ports OF shots and reached the corner
In time 20 see policemen I'm an automO-
bile exchanging shots with the three
bandits, who were running I'm different
directions. Half dozen policemen
fprang into carriage drawn up to the
curb and started after one Of the men,
while others followed the second on
foot. leaving the remainder TO pursue
the third man in the auto.
Tho policemen on foot and In the
carriage soon caught up with their
men. but the man whom the autoists
pursued lodged through street after
street for a quarter OF n mile. At last
ne tried 10 vault n fence into an open
field, but caught his foot on the top
rail and fell I'm n heap on the other
side. Before hc could rise half n dozen
men were Oh him.
The three men, all OF whom are
ItaliJins, were taken to police head.
quarters. where they were searched
Upon the man who had tumbled over
the fence were found the paymaster's
watch and his revolver