Rochester, Monroe, NY Times Union July 17, 1925 MURDERS HIS BENEFACTOR TO GET $13 Schenectady, July 17 - For the insignificant sum of $13, Hayden SMITH, 17-year-old youth, of this city, today stands in the shadow of the electric chair. SMITH, according to a confession county officials say he made, planned the murder and robbery of Ziba C. NICKERSON of Chatham, Mass., while NICKERSON was getting a telegraph money order for $15 cashed on the afternoon of July 4. NICKERSON had befriended SMITH when he found him trudging along the road near Cleveland, O., and had given him a lift in his automobile to this city, his home town. NICKERSON ran out of funds when he reached here, and telegraphed his relatives for money, SMITH then took NICKERSON to his home and kept him there while he was awaiting arrival of the money. On the afternoon of the national holiday. NICKERSON received work his money was at the telegraph office and drove down there with SMITH. According to the county authorities SMITH conceived the idea of murder and robbery while NICKERSON was collecting the money. The two drove around the city for a time, and then NICKERSON permitted SMITH to drive the car and on a lonely road the youth deliberately stalled the car. While NICKERSON looked over the motor, SMITH drew a revolver belonging to his friend and shot him five times. He did not get the $15, however, finding but $13, a watch and ring. These latter he threw away, the alleged confession states. His net proceeds were $13 and an automobile. He made no attempt to dispose of the machine. Today, according to the jailer, SMITH is smiling and happy, apparently; the thought of going to the electric chair for $13 is not giving him the least bit of concern. "I feel better now that I have this off my mind," Sheriff MYERS quoted SMITH as saying after he made his confession. "It had been worrying me." No mention of the $13 — the figure considered an omen of ill luck — and what his desire for it is apt to cost him. **** FRENCHMEN ACCUSED OF KEEPING HIS WIFE CHAINED IN CHATEAU Paris, July 17 - Accused of keeping his wealthy wife chained up for two years in her chateau near Chatenay, Charles SOLER, head of a Paris manufacturing company, and a close friend of a former president of the republic is under arrest, together with his "secretary." Mile. Berthe de La Planque. The affair, which came to light as a result of citizens of Chatenay hearing faint cries coming from a tower room of the chateau, has given Paris society, in which both SOLER and his wife were prominent, a severe shock. **** STORMS CAUSE DAMAGE Buffalo, July 17 - Storms that swept over Western New York and Pennsylvania last night did heavy damage to crops. Lightning struck the Presbyterian Church at Warsaw and Lockport reported much damage to shade trees. Mount Morris, Hornell and Middletown also recorded heavy losses sustained by flood water. **** FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER Olean, July 17 - Joseph LIOI, 22 Youngstown, O., today was found guilty of murder in the second degree in the killing of John BARKER here, May 15. **** CURB GAS PUMPS ARE PERMISSABLE Albany, July 17 - Gasoline pumps may be set up at the curb of city streets and those already in place need not be moved, according to a decision of the Court of Appeals. The court's decision reversed the Appellate Division, Second Department, which affirmed a mandamus order obtained by Frank M. McCOY, Jr., directing the trustees of the village of Peekskill to remove gasoline pumps located at curbs as alleged obstructions to traffic. **** GRAND JURY ASKS TO INDICT KNAPP Mineola, July 17 - With Philip KNOK KNAPP, army deserter and alleged "thrill murderer," variously reported as having been seen in North Carolina, Washington, D. C., Indiana, Ohio and crossing the Canadian border within the past 24 hours, a Nassau county grand jury was summoned here today to indict him for the killing of Louis PANELLA. District Attorney WEEKS, who clings to belief that KNAPP will be apprehended within a few days, expecting the grand jury to hand down an indictment charging first degree murder. **** Find ALL of the News Abstracts for Monroe Co., NY at http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/NY/Monroe/index.html -- GjS