Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-10-13
JERSEY BANDITS
MURDER MAN
Cranberry King Shot, Brother
Slain, Two Wounded.
FAIL IN PLOT TO STEAL $4,000
PIucky Woman Driving Automobile
Evades Hiehwaymen, But is Serious.
Iy Wounded.

~ Wounoeo'
A man was murdered and his
brother, known as the cranberry
King of New jersey" the latter's
daughter and an employe, were
desperately wounded by twelve
highwaymen at Springer's Bridge
eight miles from Hammonton, N. j.
The thugs were after $4,000 which
they failed to get.
The man killed was Henry Rider,
Howell, Mich.
Those wounded are: Andrew jack
son Rider, Hammonton, president or
the New Jersey Cranberry Growers
Association, the largest cranberry
grower in New Jersey and one Of the
largest in the United States; Mrs.
Elsie Smathers, and James Rigby, a
mechanic employed by A. J. Rider.
A. J. Rider had started out in his big
seven-seated touring car for Hamp'
ton Park At Hampton Park he intend
ed to pay hundred laborers at his
cranberry bogs there their September
wages. He took the $4,000 for this
purpose.
Henry Rider, who was in Hammon'
ton on his annual visit to his brother,
decided to go along. He sat in the
tonneau, with Rigby. Mrs. Smathe:s,
whose husband, Robert, died only two
months ago, settled herself in the
front seat of the car to drive for her
father. Tucked away in a leather bag
under the front seat was the payroll
money.
The car was humming along at ali
even pace as it drew near Springer's
Bridge. Mrs. Smathers was chatting
with her father. He sat beside her.
Suddenly, hundred yards ahead, a
clump of bushes along the roadside
parted and twelve men sprang out,
one after the other. One of them ran
into the middle of the road and held
up his hands, a revolver in each. His
companions, all armed, were ranged
along the ditch.
stop" shouted the man in the
road.
Mrs. Smathers, her face gone white,
slowed the car as if to halt; then, ab-
ruptly she gave the wheel a sharp
twist, swung the big machine around,
and shot it, at highest speed, its en-.
CINE roaring, back the way it had
come. Instantly the highwaymen
opened fire.
Henry Rider was shot in the head,
over the right ear. He fell back in a
heap in the back Of the car. His
brother, half rising from his seat and
shouting defiance at the thugs, got
one bullet in the right cheek, another
in the hand third in the arm. He
collapsed, lying half on the front seat,
half on the floor. Six bullets found
Rigby, three lodging in his back, one
in his chest and two in the left leg,
between the knee and the thigh.
Mrs. Smathers had crouched low
over the wheel in an effort to dodge
the rafting rain of bullets, but one
struck her in the knee, two in the
back. For moment her grip on the
wheel loosened, but the car kept
straight ahead, and was running true
when the plucky woman took fresh
hold on the steering gear.
Two minutes later the car drew up
before the home of David Kill, fore.
man for A. J. Rider, and in response
to Mrs. Smathers gasping cry for help,
those in the house hurried out. They
found the driver lying with her head
on the wheel, blood from the wounds
in her back marking widening blotch
in the back Of her dress.
But when she heard voices, Mrs.
Smathers struggled upright in her
seat and managed to falter out a brief
account Of what had occurred. Her
father weakly put in word here and
there, but Rigby was unconscious and
Henry Rider was dead.