The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-26
Gang Works From Au-
tomobile With Quick
ness and Precision.
ANOTHER SERIES
OF DARING CRIMES
Chauffeur Killed, Machine Stolen,
Bank Employees Murdered and
/. Money Taken, Chief Incl
dents of Latest Exploit.
Police Seem Powerless
Against Organization.

Paris, March 25-The automobile
bandits who in February tcrrorized
many districts Of France by carrying
out an extraordinary series Of crimes
have perpetrated during the past few
days a fresh series of daring crimes.
which reached its climax this morn
ing in murder on the public high
way between Villeneuve-st Georges
and Paris. \ gang of four bandits.
who occupied an au,omobile ordered
the chauffeur of private car TO stop.
When the chauffeur refused the high
waymen shot him dead with their re-
volvers and wounded the occupant of
the car.
After throwing the corpse OF the
chauffeur into the ditch by the road
side. the bandits entered their automo-
bile and drove toward Paris.
The most recent exploit of the band
of road pirates. who nave put rural
France in a state OF terror by tho
swiftness and "reminiscences OF their
operation has created tremendous
impression upon the Imagination OF
Parisians.
Apparently the police arc powerless
against this organization
Quick Work or Bandits.
The feature OF to-day's series of
crimes is the startling rapidity with
which they were committed The au-
tomobile was stolen BY the bandits AS
II was passing through the historical
forest Of Senart. about twenty -iive
miles from Paris, az SIS o'clock this
morning. From that place ii was
traced 10 Paris and Chantllly. where
stormed tina bank at Chantilly twcn-
ty-thrcc miles to the northeast OF
Paris, returned to NC suburb OF AS
nieres with the ssGils. and made good
their escape by 40 O'Clock. after
wh!ch all trace OF them was lost The
stolen automobile was seen and rec
ognized by the cyciist police on watch
at -\snieres about 1890 ~ VI. The
police spranE upon their bicycles and
gave chase. but were soon distanced.
Shortly afterward they came up with
the automobile, which had be.n a6an-
doned by the bandits close TO tn.
railroad. This is the last trace of the
assassins
police found an empty portfolio be-
longing to the Chantilly bank. which
removes ali doubt that the villeneuve-
st. Georges assassins were also those
of Chantilly. There were n number
OF blood stains on the motor car. and
two hats with number OF cartridges
for revolvers and Winchester carbincs
were cound.
Fire at Word of Command
An employc OF the bank at Chantilly.
who escaped in a mysterious manner
relates the story of the bandits Mt
tack as follows;
-Four assassins entered the bank
and lined up before the counter with
military precision. At the word OF
command gwen by one of them n.
volley was fired. and the cashier drop
ped dead while another victim was
mortally wounded. and expired in a
few minutes. a third man was wound
ed by two balls in the shoulder 4
fourth happened to be STOPPING to
open drawer when two bullets pass
cd close to his head without hitting
MIN. and he escaped into the yard
Soon after the robbery had been
reported detectives in automobiles he
gan searching the environs of Paris
The detectives believe they have n
much better chance of capturing the
assass ms now. inasmuch as sevcrnl
persons have been able to obtain n
good look at them and could Identity
them.
With a view OF coping with the
automobile bandits Jules Stecg. Minis
ter Of the Interior. has decided TO in
troducc bill into the Chamber of De-
puties tomorrow providing for the
creation of an automobile police force