Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1915 — THIEF LEFT AUTO AT FARMER’S HOME [ARTICLE]

THIEF LEFT AUTO AT FARMER’S HOME

Youth Stole Ford From Dr. Kelley of Hammond and Left It at Home of Mark Ott. Mark Ott, who lives 1% miles northwest of Kniman, was taken to Hammond Tuesday following the recovery at his farm that day of a Ford automobile belonging to Dr. Kelley, of Hammond. No suspicion attached to Mr. Ott, but the Hammond officer, Deputy Sheriff Brice Whittaker, a brother of Sheriff Henry Whittaker, thought it best to require him to go to Hammond and give what information he could about the machine. Mr. Ott said that the car was brought to his house by a young man named Valentine Schramm, of Hammond. Schramm had worked in the neighborhood of Kniman for a short time. He wanted to sell the car but Mr. Ott would not buy it unless the owner of the car came to him and made the sale direct. Young Schramm offered to go to Hammond and bring the owner of the car to Kniman and he left ostensibly for that purpose. While he was away the Lake county officers the machine to Mr. Ott’s farm and recovered it, taking Mr. Ott to Hammond with them. Tuesday night Young Schramm reappeared at the Ott home, having two companions with him. They were in another Ford car. They learned that the other car had been taken by and so pulled out, going to the east and it is believed to South Bend. Sheriff McColly was called into the case and made trips to Hammond and Gary, giving aid in locating the first stolen car. It is not known whether the second car that Schramm and companions drove to Kniman was a stolen car or not, but it is said that Hammond police know the names of the others who were with Schramm and believe the car was stolen. Schramm is 19 years of age and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Schramm, 2850 Lincoln avenue, Hammond. He is said to have been in trouble before. He is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weight about 160 pounds. He wore a blue coat, blue striped pants, white canvas shoes and a cap when last seen. Mr. Ott was released after he arrived in Hammond and returned to his home Wednesday. He gave the officers all the information he had and this will probably aid in capturing Young Schramm.