Evening journal., 1922-08-12

WOUNDED
Chester .Motorist Dying
After Night Attack by
Rivals, in Automobiles
SAY THEY WERE
CARRYING HOOCH

CHESTER. Pa, Aug. 12.-ven-
geance sworn by rivals in boot
leggers' war. in which he IS said to
have been engaged, is held respon-
sIble by the police for the shooting
OF Joseph Rykei. 6s9 McIlvaino
street. this city, while riding 10 his
automobile at a lonely spot in the
back road north OF the Baldwin
Locomotive Works parallellng the
Chester trolley short line.
While Rykel is dying in the Ches-
ter Hospital, the detectives arrest
ed Joseph Williams, 3s. OF Front
and Christian streets. Philadelphia.
who confessed. II is reported, he took
an automobile load OF prohibition
liquor TO the Crum Creek bridge to
be transferred 20 Rykel's car. but
before the transfer could be accom-
piished four men dashed up IN an
other machine and shot Rykel
through the chest.
Williams. who was arrested IN a
garage at Second and Christian
streets. Philadelphia. yesterday, add
ed that Immediately after he had
witnessed the shooting he returned
to Philadelphia with the liquor in
his car and then notified the Ches-
ter police OF what he had seen. VIII
liams is being held without bail,
pending further. investigation OF the
case.
While the detectives have been
unable 10 gain any direct informa-.
ton from RykeI concerning the
cause OF the attack or the identity
OF his assailants, the police are con-
vinced that the enmity OF others en-
gagged in the hootch manufacturing
business Is responsible for the
shooting. rather than that the at
tack ,was merely one by bandits In
tent upon robbery. The police say
S19t was found in Rykel's pockets,
which would indicate his assaiiants
had no intention OF robbing him.
A guard at the Baldwin plant
heard three shots, he told the police,
about SEAS. the time Rykel fs said
TO have had the engagement to meet
Williams at the Crum Creek bridge,
and saw the Chester mans machine
along the road for about
twenty-five yards or more before Il
came 70 halt on the trolley tracks.
Behind Rykel's car, added the guard.
was another machine which trailed
IL for a short distance and then shot
ahead IN. the direction OF this city.
According 10 the story told by
Williams. the four assaiiants dashed
up alongside Rykel's car and fred
pointblank at HIM, leaving him
crumpled up on the front seat while
the machine ran on of its own ac-
cord. No definite clues TO the iden- l
tity OF the men so far has been OBJ
tained.
Discarding the bandit theory, the
detectives are convinced that. the
affair is the result OF bootieggers'
war, which Is said 70 have been
waged fast and furiOusly for many
weeks between rival gangs of hooch-
producing lawbreakers. Numerous
without serious conse-
quence, have been reported 70 the
Chester police within the last few
as a consequence OF the /
frenzied activities Of the bootleggers |
to obtain the first and best-priced |
Tor their respective concoc- /
tions.
Rykel, say the detectives. un-
ioubtedly was framed" by some OF
his rivals who held him 10 blame
for placing his own stuff advan-
tageously before they placed theirs.
the police think Ry-
1el had just completed delivery OF
| valuable consignment OF liquor
when attacked, which would ac-
'ount, they say, for the large amount
II money found in his possession.
A loaded revolver was found In
Rykers automobile. No cartridges
lad been exploded. Indicating that
he motorist was seriously wounded
'efore he had time to protect him
elf or fire IN his own defense.