Milford chronicle., 1916-10-20
JERSEY BANDITS
MURDER man
Cranberry King Shot, Brother
Slain, Two Wounded.
FAIL IN PLOT TO STEAL $4,000
Plueky Woman Driving Automobile
EVades Highwaymen, But is Serious
Iy Wounded.

" wounded
A man was murdered and hi:
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. ]
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 Of
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, 3
mechanic employed by A. ]. 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 a hundred laborers at his
cranberry bogs there their September
wages. He took the $4,000 for this
purpose.
Henry Rider, who was in Harmon
ton on his annual visit to his brother
decided to go along. He sat in the
tonneau, with Rigby. Mrs. Smathers
whose husband, Robert, died only two
months ago, settled herself in the
front seat of the car to drive for heI
father. Tucked away in a leather bag
under the front seat was the payroll
money.
The car was humming along at al
even pace as it drew near Springer's
Bridge. Mrs. Smathers was chatting
with her father. He sat beside her
Suddenly, hundred yards ahead, 8
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, Asr face gone white
slowed the car as if to halt; then, alb
ruptly she gave the wheel a sharr
twist, swung the big machine around
and shot it, at highest speed, its en-
gine 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
heap in the back of the car. His
brother, half rising from his seat and
defiance at the thugs, go
lne bullet in the right cheek, another
n the hand, a third in the arm. He
lying half on the front seat
lalf on the floor. Six bullets found {
7igby, three lodging in his back, one !
n his chest and two in the left leg !
between the knee and the thigh
Mrs. Smathefs had crouched low {
,ver the wheel in an effort to dodge I
he rattling rain of bullets, but one |
truck her in the knee, two in the I
lack. For a moment her grip on the 4
Wheel loosenei, but the car kept
traight ahead, and was running true q
7hen the pluclsy woman took a fresh b
old on the steering gear. s
Two minutes later the car drew up
efore the home of David Kill, a fore
ian for A. J. Rider, and in response
} Mrs. Smathcrs' gasping cry for help II
hose in the house hurried out. They Il
,und the driver lying with her head p
n the wheel, blood from the wounds "
/ her back marking a widening blotch Il
/, fha hach of her drass
But when she heard voices, Mrs tC
mathers struggled upright in her
sat and managed to falter out a brief Il
count Of what had occurred. Her vi
.ther weakly put in a word here and tc
iere, but Rigby was unconscious and
enry Rider was dead. hi
in