Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
in HANDS OF POLICE
Two Italians Suspected OF
Killing Mine Paymaster.
TRAGEDY NEAR PITTSBURGH
Father of the Victim Identifies Man
in Arrest.
ATTEMPTS TO THROTTLE HIM
Highwaymen Shoot Without Warn
ing-Robbery Regarded as Only
Motive of the Crime.
TRAGEDY NEAR PITTSBURGH
ATTEMPTS TO THROTTLE HIN

PITTSBURGH. Pa. September 49,
While driving to the mines of the Superior
Coal Company. near here today. with the
semi-monthly pay for the miners David
Steen was shot and instantly killed by
highwaymen. His father. William J.
caught the body of his son as il toppled
over The money. S3,4oo. was saved.
Later in the day Quadrata Orrighelli. an
Italian. was arrested suspected OF know
ing something of the crime. and it was
with difficulty that troopers of the state
conStabulary prevented the elder Steen
from throttling him.
The shooting occurred almost within
a stones throw of the Steen residence
near Woodville. Father and son were
driving along the road in a carriage.
The Steens were each armed, and, re-
Numbering the experiences of other
paymasters in the coal country of
western Pennsylvania. each had his
hand on his revolver.
Fires Without Warning.
Five minutes after they left the
Steen home, where the money, secured
at a Bridgeville bank earlier in the
day had been placed in envelopes for
the miners. they crossed the Pittsburg.
Mckeesport and Youghiogheny rail
road and We're passing abandoned
mine when man appeared in the road.
Without warning he opened fire with
revolver. another man came into view
from the other side lifted a shotgun
and fired. Both shots were directed al
David Steen, who was driving, and both
took effect. One shot tore away the
right hand. cutting the reins. and the
other buried itself in his body near the
heart. The reins were dropped and the
frightened horse sprang forward.
With a groan. the diving man toppled
over toward his aged father. who encir-
cled him with one arm and drawing his
revolver began shooting at the bandits.
They did not reply. and after standing in
establishment for moment turned and
ran swiftly toward the hills
Dies Before Physician Arrives.
The elder Steen, after emptying his
revolver. caught up the reins, and shout
ing for help. drove furiously to the SUI
peror mine. There he gave the alarm
and summoned doctor. but before the
doctor arrived the man was dead.
posse was quickly organized From
their home scarce hundred yards from
the scene of the shooting, Mrs. John
NichOl and her sons, George and Joseph.
had witnessed the crime and the flight of
the bandits. The boys We're eager to fol-
low. but were restrained by their mother
until the posse came up, when they went
racing before them over the hills. y
Meantime the alarm had been given
and police in adjoining towns had been
notified. Troopers of the state constabu-
larry. stationed in the district. took up the
Ifh nd ha in he,
vicinity of the crime.
Late in the afternoon they captured
two men answering the general descrip-
ton given by Steen and took them to his
residence near Bridgeville, where he was
impatiently awaiting news
Taller Man Assaulted.
That's one of them.' lie shriekedras
he sprang toward the taller of the men
and planted a blow in his face. Before
he could be prevented he attempted to
throttle the man, but the troopers inter-
fered and held him back.
| A crowd had gathered. and the state
officers were compelled to draw their
revolvers to keep them away while they
hurried the suspects to the Carnegie Jail
Acting as Paymaster.
Steen was superintendent of Wilma mine,
No. >. which is leased to his father, w.
j. Steen. by the Pittsburgh Coal Com
pany. which takes the output. Today was
the miners pay day and Steen, as the
superintendent was acting as pay
| master. He formerly employed by
the Pittsburgh Coal Company as pay
ma ster, and it is but short while since
he left it and joined his father in coal
operations. To this was due the early re-
port that several hundred thousand dol
lars had been taken by the robbers.
The Wilma mine is a small one and
employs. under normal conditions be-
tween seventy-five and 100 men,