The New York herald., 1921-07-12
BANDITS GET $4,000
in DAYLIGHT HOLDUP;,
SHOOT AT PURSUERS
Rob Cashier of Horton Ice
Cream Company as He
Starts for Bank.
ESCAPE IN MOTOR CAR
Hundreds Near By When
Daring Thieves Seize
Bag With Money.
DEATH THREATS MADE
Bullet GraZes Hand of Driver
Of Truck That Gives Chase
to Robbers.

With a boldness which recalled the
daring daylight robberies of the old
frontier days, automobile bandits yes
terday held up and robbed George
Schneider, cashier Of the Horton Ice
Cream Company, at 205 East Twenty
fourth street, as he was leaving the
companys offices to deposit $4,000 in
bank on Fifth avenue.
The robbery took place at 1880 in
the forenoon wheE there were hun
dreds of pedestrians and workmen
near by and also policeman stationed
block away, at Third avenue and
twenty third street. The bandits, who
had timed the holdup to the minute.
escaped after a lively automobile
chase, during which several shots were
fired at the pursuers.
Schneider. who Is an A. E. F. veteran
living at Rutherford, N. j., accompanied
by Thomas Duffy. assistant superinten-
dent of the plant. lef. the cashiers Office
on the sixth floor of the building in the
passenger elevator. carrying a canvas
cash and $4,000 In non-negotiabe
checks. the Saturday and Sunday re-
ceipts.
There are four automobile runways to
the street floor of the structure and in
one Of these just to the left of the pas
senger elevator entrance there was a car
driven by Washington La Frazier of 161
West 121st street. a negro chauffeur,
who has been employed by the Horton
concern for more than. twenty-five years.
Schneider and Duffy emerged from the
elevator and walked out of the building
to the automobile which was standing
In the middle of the sidewalk runway
The cashier got into the back seat as
Duffy turned around to answer the cali
of some one in another entrance.
Warned Not to Move.
At this moment two. men sprang to
each side of the car with drawn revol-
vers and pointed them at Schneider's
head. In the centre of. the street stood
another bandit with a revolver in each
hand, who called in broken English,
Don't anybody move
The bandit at the left Of Schneider
snatched the bag with his left hand and
with his companion backed away to the
middle of the street. On the opposite
curbing another robber with a drawn
revolver covered the others. Schneider
and Duffy carried no weapons. Neither
did any OF the other Horton employees
many of whom witnessed the quick
holdup.
Waiting at the opposite curb was a
Ave passenger Buick automobile driven
by dark complexioned young man with
his hat drawn close over his eyes. The
license plate showed n. Y. 103-505. This
Is the number of a machine which was
reported stolen on July from Abraham
Levine of Mount Vernon.
George Lands. a platform employees
OF the Horton company. started from the
entrance at the left of the building az
IL to make trouble for the robbers just
as they were about to jump into their
car One of the robbers fired a shot at
him. 1t missed his head by the fraction
of an inch, and he jumped behind a
pillar.
AS the bandits car began to gain
headway eastward toward First avenue
truck owned by the Horton firm and
driven by Floyd Bates. beside whom was
seated Milton McRoberts, came to a
stop about twenty feet behind the NOV
ing robbers automobile.
Gave Chase to Robbers.
Bates, who served as an ambulance
driver overseas. Is a football star on
the New York University team and
works vacations for the ice cream COM
pany, thinking that the bandits car had
been stolen. gave chase. Neither Bates
nor McRoberts was armed.
So we'll had the stage been set in
favor OF the bandits that the swiftness
Of the hoidup and getaway covered less
than two minutes, according to workmen
and passersby. who stood amazed as
the two machines rounded First avenue
and sped recklessy north TO East
Twenty-sixth street.
Under the guidance Of Bates the little
truck gained inch by inch on the power
full bandits car in the race up First ave-
nue. to Twenty sixth street. There the
bandits car turned and raced for Sec
ond avenue. Up First avenue the two
drivers were constantly In danger, dodg-
ing elevated pillars and the slowly NOV
ing teams and automobile traffic, which
is always heavy there at that time OF
day.
The bandits driver was evidently an
expcrt chauffeur, for he made a perfect
turn up Second avenue. just grazing a
truck going In the opposite direction.
Bates, TO avoid collision. had to take
n wider turn, but was soon hot on the
trail OF the green car. which turned into
East Twenty-soventh street and came
to stop in the middle Of the block.
The Horton machine was about ten
feet behind as the bandits car slowed
up. and when the latter came 10 a
standstill Bates was on even terms. The
four bandits jumped out on the side
walk and street. and fired six shots at
the Horton employees. One OF the bullets
just missed Bates hand and hit the
steering gear The other bullets passed
through the top and side Of the small
truck.
At the sound OF the shots children
playing on the street and sidewalks as
well as pedestrians. ran for cover in the
doorways and stores in the neighbor-
hood. Still covering Bates and Nc
Roberts. the bandits jumped back into
their car. Before doing so. one of the
robbers yelled that II pursued again they
would shoot to kill.