The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-06
BELIEVE GIRL 19
/ ARCH PL0TTERIN
HOLDUP MURDER
Arrest Her and Three Alleged
COnfederates.
Slay Rich Man Conveying
$4,000 Payroll.
AUTO LICENSE TAG is CLUE
Young Woman, Driver of Car,
FOils Robbers.
Eleven Men With Girl in Bold
Holdup Attempt.
AUTO LICENSE TAG IS CLUE
Young Woman, Driver of Car,
FOils Robbers.

Philadelphia, Oct 6.-Subjected to
the third degree at detective head
quarters for hours. Mile de Marco, the
alleged 19-year-old girl chief of a
band of robbers who yesterday held
up the automobile of A. J. Rider,
president of the New Jersey Cranberry
Growers association at Atscion, n. j.,
a desoluate hamlet fourteen miles
from Hammonton, n. J., wounded
him, his daughter and another man
and killed his brother, Henry d. Rider
of Howell, Mich, made damaging ad-
missions at noon today, according to
Captain Tate of the detective bureau.
The girl admitted that she and the
three men companions had motored
from this city and were at Atscion, n.
J., at the time of the shooting. She
admitted she had heard several shots
after the chauffeur of the automobile
had stopped his car not far from the
spot where a number of men said to
have been masked, held up Riders
car in an attempt to steal the payroll
of $1,000 being taken to the 800 en-
ployes at Riders cranberry bogs.
Giuseppe Russo, an intimate friend
of the de Marco girl, the police say,
Frank Vessal, the chauffeur, and
Frank Ladona, the three other prison
ers held here in connection with the
crime. were similarly grilled today
and admitted they had taken an early
morning ride from this city to Ham
monitor. They also admitted they had
been at the spot indicated by the de
Marco girl.
Admits Ownership of Car.
The automobile in which the twelve
persons travelled is owned by Frank
Vessela. He told detectives that he
had hired it to Giuseppe Russo last
Wednesday at $15 a day. He declared
| he carried the woman, Russo and
I Frank Lad onass a fried of his not
| known. by the other two, to Hamn1on-
ton Yesterday morning. He said he
waited there several hours with the
woman while the other men, who
were picked up in Camden, were alb
sent.
He declared they returned excited
and they talked in low tones. He
could not hear what they said.
All the persons mentioned are un-
der arrest. The de Marco girl and
| Russio are held on suspicion of muir
| der and the other two as material
witnesses.
Philadelphia, Oct 6.-Millie De
Marco. a 1s-year-old Italian girl. is
| believed by the police to have engi-
neered the plot which resulted in the
murder of Henry Rider. wealthy cram
| berry grower, near HaEImonton, \.
J., yesterday and the shooting of
Riders brother and two other per-
( "A. y
Rider. president of the New Jersey
Cranberry Growers association.
She and three other Italians are
under arrest in connection with the
murder, which grew out of an attempt
to hold up the Rider party and rob
them of a bag containing $4,000. the
payroll for the cranberry p1ckers.
. The De Marco girl and three Italians
arrested in this city late last night
were traced to the Italian colony here
| thru the license number of an auto
mobile in which eleven men and one
the home of the Riders yesterday
shortly before the murder.
Three Others Shot.
A J. Rider and his daughter Mrs
Elsie Smathers, who valiantly drove
the automobile after she bad been
wounded, and James n. iSigby, who
also occupied the Rider car at the
time of the attack. are in the Jeffer-
son hospital of this city Their con-
dition today was hopeful, and physi-
clans said they would recover.
The sight of eleven men and one
girl in an automobile aroused unusua
| interest among the natives OF Ats1on
Nj. Some one casually noted that the
automobile bore Pennsylvania IL
cense number. Detectives learned the
number and the description of the
girl which corresponded with that o
| the young NOIlldIl cIllplOStQ VI
his cranberry bogs. The girl knew
the movements of Mr.. Rider on pay
| DAYS and was aware of the large
| amount of money required for tht
| payroll of about three hundred mel
and women cranberry pickers. Th'
! police are working on the theory tina
| she planned the shooting with the ai6
| of confederates from this city. AL
| have admitted, the police say, tina
they were at Atsion yesterday.
Young Woman Driver Is Heroine.
Mrs. Smathers, a widow of a few
weeks and only 26 years old, was {
| heroine today in the eyes of the po
lice and hospital physicians here. Not
withstanding her weakened condition
she drove her fathers big touring cal
at racing clip for more than tel
miles from the scene of the shooting
to Hammonton, where her father.
estate is one of the show places.
Two Italians were arrested at 'tht
| Pennsylvania railroad terminal il
Camden, N J., early today as the.
| stepped from a train they had boarded
at Hammonton. They were Shadowe'
| by detectives during the ride to Cam
| den and when one of the men wa
questioned he became suspicious an,
threw what the police believe to hav
been a revolver o1t of the car window
Gen. Funston Reviews Troops.
\ Laredo, Oct 6-Gen. Fredericl
Funston today reviewed Nationa
Guard troops stationed here. Hun