The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-01-29
YOUNG LADY IS BOLDLY TAKEN
FROM HER HOME
JOUBkED In A TAXICAB
Bold Kdnapers Almost Succeed IN
Daring Plan, But Is Foiled By the
Driver, Who Eeads the Automo-
bile for the Police Station, and
Kidnapers Are Arrested.

Facing a sentence OF life impris-
onment at Allentown. Pa, for the
attempted kidnapping Of an heiress to
millions. Samuel Sinclair Jr., and R.
Walter Star Jr.. have put forward a
rovel plea for their defense. Sin
clair, the principal in the bold plot.
insists that the alleged kidnapping Of
Miss Anna A. Steckel. the daughter
Of q retired millionaire business man
Of that city, was not q kidnapping at
all, but an elopement plot which was
to result in him marrying the pretty
society girl. The indignant denial
entered by Miss Steckel against this
story is blandly explained by SIN
clair who says that the girl got
"cold feet" and Is now trying to
place him in prison to save herself.
"Elopement, nothing" declares
the aged father OF the girl. II saw
my daughter being dragged out Of
her own home by these two men,
and when I protested the only an
swer received was 90 shut up. I
am too old to have offered any vto-
lent objection to the kidnapping, but
I will spend half my money to have
them properly punishei'
The attempted Kidnapping Of Miss
Steckel was one Of the boldest crimes
Of its sort the east has record Of lo7
a number Of years. She was return
ing to the palatial home OF her faith
er from a shopping trip. and when
she turned in at the gate noticed a
taxicab standing by the curb. but
thought nothing Of 1t. She opened
the front door and stepped into the
vestibule when she was grabbed by
Sinclair and Star.
Thinking the whole affair joke
at drst, for she knew the two young
men, she began laughing, but the
| mtrth turned to shrieks when she
found herself being dragged down
the walk toward the waiting cab
When che screamed for help. one Of
the men placed his nand over hex
mouth. and thus gagged she wac
thrust into the waiting automobile
The chauffeur, who told the police
that his cab had been engaged "fol
a wedding became suspicious al
the actions OF the men, and when
the men followed the girl into the
car and told him to drive on, he de-
termined to turn the entire party
over to the police. He drove al
break-neck speed, and, IN turning g
corner, crashed into q monument
disabling the car and badly shaking
ap the occupants. Before any one
could recover, a policeman had TAX
en- charge Of the two men and the
girl, who was found On the foor ot
the wrecked taxi, her arms pinionet
and a blanket thrown over her.
The two young men In the case
are members OF prominent Philsdel
phia families. Sinclair, the leader II
the alleged kidnapping. had been 8
suitor Of Miss steckeI's for months
but his love making had been dis
couraged by the young lady and ht
presence il the house barred BY hel
father. Star declares he knew moth
ing Of any kidnapping, but believed
he was to help IN an elopement.
! The pretty victim in the case wa
handled so roughly by the men in at
tempting to keep her quiet. that abe
is still In bed. She constantly asks
for guard to protect her, now thai
the two men in the case have beer
set at liberty on bail, declaring thai
she fears Sinclair will make another
attempt to get her or do her bodily
injury.