The Republican., 1925-09-24
FROSTBURG POLICE RUN
DOWN ALLEGED SLAYER
Tad LaRue, Alleged Murderer
of Pittsburgh Woman, Caught
at Garrett County Home

Idu LdSue, dSeu 20 years, wanted
for the murder of Mrs. Mollie Nc
Ginnis, of Stewards Stop, on the We
roma car line, Pittsburgh, Friday,
September 11th, was captured near
hi shOme, three miles west of Frost
burg, between the Big and Little
Savage Mountains, in Garrett county,
at 3:15 o'clock last Thursday after
noon by Officers John Miller, Edward
Bevans, Thomas Griffith and Angus
tus Sweitzer, of the Frostburg police
department.
Chief of Police John d. Keller, of
Frostburg, received word Thursday
morning that LaRue was at his home
in Garrett county and he Immediately
arranged to have four officers sur
round the LaRue home. Shortly af-
ter noon on Thursday Officers Miller,
Bevans, Griffith and Sweitzer left
FrOstburg and drove to the Little
Savage Mountain Road. Miller re-
turned to the National Highway and
Bevans, Griffith and Sweitzer went
into the woods to the rear of the La
Rue home and approached the house
from different directions.
LaRue evidently became suspicious
that he was being surrounded and at
tempted to escape by running in a
STOPPING position through a thicket
of jack oak trees toward Big Savage
Mountain. The officers seeing thei1
man attempting to escape drew their
guns and ordered him to throw up his
hands. LaRue at once complied with
their command and surrendered to
the police without offering any resis-
tence.
He was taken to the Frostburg Jail
by the officers and the Pittsburgh au-
thorities were notified of his capture.
LaRue is charged with numbering
Mrs. Mollie McGinnis by striking her
on the head with piece of lead pipe.
Mrs. McGinnis was returning to
her home from a shopping trip in
Williamsburg on the evening of the
11th. She was nearing the home of
Mrs. Howard Moore, a neighbor, with
whom she had left her children, when
a man accosted her. Observing a piece
of lead pipe in his hand, Mrs. McGin-
mis- ran into the Moore home and
bolted the door. The man pursued
her and when admittance was refus-
ed, he battered down the door and
chased Mrs. McGinnis out Of the
house. He seized her at the head of
a stairway leading from the yard of
the Moore home and beat her with
the pipe. She struggled until she
lost conciousness.
LaRue had been in Jail at Pitts
burgh on a concealed weapon charge
and was paroled in July.
When captured LaRue wore a light
cap, blue serge suit and brown oxford
shoes. After being taken to the jail
at Frostburg he was searched but his
clothing contained no weapons of any
kind. He told the officers that he
had arrived at his home on Thursday
morning and that the reason for GO
ing home was that he knew the next
time he came he would come in diff
ferent way.
When asked what caused him tC
commit the crime with which he is
charged, he blamed it on "an onery
gang"
LaRue stated that he had remain
ed in Pittsburgh from the evening
the crime was committed until We'd
nesday morning, stating that he had
left Pittsburgh that morning and ar
rived at his home in the county at
1880 Thursday morning.
81 rode nearly all the way" said
LaRue, "by asking passing motorists
for a lift" LaRue stated that he
knew he was going to be captured
and he thought he might as well come
home as to remain in Pittsburgh.
Before going to Pittsburgh, LaRue
worked for the Savage Mountain Fire
Brick Company as a mine driver.
He was we'll known throughout the
community in which he lived and bore
a good reputation, never having beer
in any trouble. Crowds of his friends
surrounded the Frostburg Jail Thurs.
day night discussing the crime ant
his capture.
According to the Pittsburgh officer.
the crime alleged to have been com.
mitted by LaRue was one of the NOS
brutal in the history of Allegheny
county, Pa. After knocking his vic
tim down with the pipe he is said tC
have beaten her brains out with
a brick.
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