The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-22
SILK BANDITS KILL
DRIVER; TAKE TRUCK
Three Highwaymen Hold Up
Two Men on Lonely New
Jersey Road.
PLUMBER WORTH $4,000
Van Abandoned When Chase
Begins and Young Muir
derers Escape.

Three hishwaymen held up a motor
truck carrying 10000 worth OF silk nj
Somerville, N. j., thirty-six miles from
New York. yesterday afternoon. When
Charles Hilbert OF Allentown. Pa. tho
chauffeur, sought to draw revolver
they shot him through the heart and
dragged his body into a clump OF WOODS
beside the roadway. The trio left Frank
Myer, Hilbert's helper, in the thicket,
threatening him with death II he moved.
Entering the truck, the bandits turned
about and sped along the highway
toward Newark. But when they reached
Summit Junction, a station on the Cen
trail Railroad of New Jersey, they aban-
doned the van and It's load OF silk, fear
ing pursuit and capture.
Police all over New Jersey and in New
York were seeking the murderers last
night. Myer says they were all young.
He describes one as being small and
dark. and with the appearance OF an
italian. The other two, he says. had
light hair and wore light suits and straw
hats.
The truck belonged to Kallenback &
Stevens, silk manufacturers of b6 Bige-
low street, Newark. II has made fire.
quent trips between that city and Allen
town, where the company has finishing
mill. The robbery had apparently been
carefully planned. About thirty miles
from Newark. where a stream known
as Middle Brook crosses Union avenue
between Somervllle and Bound Brook.
there is a sharp rise in the road. At the
top there are woods on either side. and
persona crouching in them would have
an unobstructed view OF the highway
for half a mile
Chauffeur shot Through Heart.
Hilbert had nearly reached tho top
when the three road agents leaped from
the trees on either side with drawn re-
volvers. They ordered him to stop and
ne promptly shut of the power. Myer,
who was seated on the rear OF the truck.
was told to hold UP his hands and Jump
off. One highwayman. he says. marched
him short distance into the woods.
where he was compelled to stretch out
on his back. still keeping his arms ele-
waited. Myer says the man kept re-
rolver pressed into the pit OF his
stomach while searching for the weapon
ne believed Myer had about him. But
the search was vain one. While II was
going on. Myer says he heard several
shots in the road.
1--WE shot this - all right" one OF the
men called. Myers captor commenced
,acking toward the motor van at this.
threatening to shoot IL Myer moved.
The latter waited until he heard the
trucks engine start and then he leaped
to his feet and raced through the woods
and fields. coming out on Union avenue,
quarter OF mile away There no
called Chief of Police Nash at Bound
Brook on the telephone.
Nash hurried out in an automobile.
covering the half mile from the police
station in a bit over two minutes. He
and Myer returned to the scene OF the
hold up. but the truck. Hilbert and the
road agents had disappeared.
Hilbert's body was found in the woods
just Off the road. An attempt had been
made to toss it over an embankment,
but it rested on the edge. The chauf-
ieur's face was battered In and there
was bullet hole through his heart.
Bandits Abandon Truck.
II !s believed that Hilbert put up q
desperate fight for his life. Although
Myer carried no revolver, Hilbert did.
A part of the rubber handle Of the
weapon was found in the road. The
chauffeur had d wife and six children in
Allentown and his body was taken to
the Somerville morgue.
Evidences were found In the road that
the truck had been turned and started
back toward Newark. The silk was I'M
disturbed when the abandoned truck was
recovered at Summit Junction. Myer
was locked up in the county Jail at
Somerville as n material witness. II
was his first trip with Hilbert. but menu
bers Of the silk firm said he had been
~ their employ for some time and that