2 Blacksburg Men Held In Taxi Case

The Spartanburg Herald
March 3, 1954

GAFFNEY, (Herald Bureau) — Two Blacksburg men were being held Tuesday on charges of attempting to rob a Gaffney taxi driver after slashing his throat early Sunday.

Defendants listed in warrants issued by Magistrate Garland Painter were Roy D. Byars, 26, and John Frank Westmoreland, 19.

City police said Walter Benton, 22, held a pistol on the pair until officers arrived after Byars pressed a knife to Benton's throat and ordered him to "pull over to the curb."

Benton said he suddenly applied the brakes, throwing the men off balance while he seized a gun hidden in the front seat, jumped from the cab and whirled to confront them with his weapon.