West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-01-08
AUTO THUGS HAUL
VICTIMS AROUND
filiSnugers Looted and Then
Thrown into Taxi
HOLDUpS ARE SPECTACULAR
Tale Of Robbery and kidnapping That
Rivals ooluss o. Paris Desperadoes
Men Are Masked and Armed

Men Are Masked and Armed
The East END of Pittsburg was the
scene ot one OF the most spectacular
series OF holdups ever enacted in tnat
city.
After ortering taxicab three men
held up thu chauneur. rushed min in
the taxi and then started on a whole
sale robbery and kiiHaping expedi-
ton.
Their booty netted them over $500
in monny and valuables.
The robbers rode up and down a
nufroer or East End streets picking
up their victims along the way. whom,
they held up. looted and then hustled
INTO the taxi and made away with
Three prominent East End men were
taken In. besides the chauffeur.
The victims. are:
Charles r. Succop, treasurer OF the
independent Brewing company, vice
president Of the German Savings and
Deposit company.
James G. Weldon, buyer for the
Weldon and Kelly Plumbing Supply
company.
Oscar F. Grant agent for the Arrott
estate.
J. G. Scott. chauffeur for the Pull
man Taxicab company
The taxi Was ordered over the teIe-
phone 10 be used by party of three.
The person at the telephone said the
party would be waiting for the ma
chine.
J. G. Scott was directed TO I'll the
order. When he arrived at the corner
three men were awaiting him. Two
OF them, he says, jumped into the car
before II was stopped and the other
!. ordered him 10 take them to Verona
About mile out the Verona road
Scott says he was ordered to stop and
two OF the men got out OF the taxi.
Scott was ordered &c dismount and
held up on the spot. He was relieved
OF SO at the point OF revolver. He
says the men were then masked.
ThFnstmg their guns into his face they
ordered him into the machine, where
he was bllndfolded and his hands tied.
Two OF the robbers. he says. climbed
into the car with him and the third
got on the front and the taxi was
tnrued around and started back to the
city
The next victim picked IN was Mr.
Succop. he was within 200 feet OF
his residence when he was overtaken
hr The taxi. Two masked men jumped
from Il. thrustlng revolvers into his
face. One Of them said:
"Get IN therei And be Quick about
1t. or well blow your brains out.
You're a passenger"
Mr.. Succop says he got into the car.
whore he found the chauffeur tied and
blIndfoIded He was likewise blind
folded ard then robbed. The two
thugs took $50 in cash. IA gold watch
snd chain valued ct $40, a diamond
scarf pin valued at $40 and pair Of
cuff links. The occupants OF the car.
he says, cautioned him against
making any outcry.
Il was over an hour before another
stop was made. Mr.. Weldon was
walking along Howe street At Howe
and Negley three automobiles were
lined MP along the sidewalk He says
that as he psssed the group two men
jumped frori the middle one and ap-
peared to be looking for a house num-
ber He stepped up 20 them and he
discovered they were both masked
and carried revolvers. He was like
wise ordered into the car.
II thought they were just joking" "
said Mr.. Weldon. "and so 7 told them
,D~T Il was money they wanted would
give them all they wanted. was
showed into the taxi and told II made
a noise would be shot then knew
II Vac serious business. found two
blindfolded men In the taxi, beside
whom ! was showed. Then was
blindfolded and bound hand and foot
and the two who thrust me inside the
cab went through my clothes"
About S8 IN cash. a gold watch and
chain and other jewelry. all valued
1t about $50, was taken from Mr..
Weldon.
Another stop was made and an un.
successful effort was attempted to
force Oscar r. Grant. aged fifty. in the
taxi. Grant resisted and was hit over
The head with the butt Of a revolver.
He was left in the snow unconscious.