Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1916 — THIEF IMPERSONATED RENSSELAER BOY [ARTICLE]

THIEF IMPERSONATED RENSSELAER BOY

I Man Giving Name of John Harmon, of Renasekfer, Arrested For Stealing Horse. Last Tuesday night the rig of John I Quade, of Reynolds, was stolen from I the hitch rack at that place, and was later recovered. The culprit gave his name as John Hannon and said that his home was in Rensselaer. He was about 18 years of age and was dressed very lightly and seemed quijte cold I from riding. Upon being questioned j the young man from his talk seemed I to be weak mentally and could give no satisfactory reason for the crime. The thief was taken to Monticello and lodged in jail. He was later I tried and convicted and sentenced to §erve a term at Plainfield. Word came to The Republican office I this Monday morning asking us to verify the story, but the reporter! could find no information that would I coroborate ths statemetns made by I the prisoner and there was no ground I whatever for suspicioning the young man of this city of the same name. I

It is probable that the culprit had heard of Mr. Harmon’s trouble some time ago and decided to adopt that name for himself. Investigation by a reporter disclosed the fact that John Harmon has been working for the past several years on a farm near Rensselaer and had not been out of the county in the past two weeks, and had obtained work for the coming summer on a farm near here. John has been unjustly dealt with in the escapade of the thief, whoever he may be, and has received some unpleasant notoriety, and The Republican publishes this story in order that all doubts concerning the tale may be set at rest.