Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1919 — ALL HARMONY IN THIS CASE [ARTICLE]

ALL HARMONY IN THIS CASE

BANDITS DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED CAR WORSE THAN OWNER—TOOK IT. “We want that car,” growled a vicious looking individual, as- he poked a 20th century Colts towards the spot where Pete Merritt, of Remington, wears his heart. “Take it,” replied the agreeable Peter.

In less time than it takes to put it into Webster, Mr# Merritt and his companion, James Woods, vacated Henry Ford’s leading product and gave up all earthly claim they had to it, the title of ownership passing from their hands into those of the rough looking individual and his four companions, who had come out of an adjacent cornfield so unexpectedly to take charge of the car. The scene occurred on the road south of Remington about 10 o’clock Tuesday night and was enacted sp quickly that Mr. Merritt and his companion were quite a spell in grasping the new turn of events. A short time later telephone calls were made from Remington to the authorities of neighboring towns asking that they be on the lookout for the bandits and the car. Today the net was spread even further and it is thought that the automobile at least will be located before night.

All day Thursday and Friday the authorities* of Goodland and Remington kept a suspicious eye cast on the .actions of several strangers who made frequent trips bock and forth between the two towns in a new automobile. Their idleness aroused the suspicions of the police officers, who felt that they were bent on mischief of some sort. Apparently the bandits were aware that they had excited the suspicion of the police and had decided that it was a poor place to atempt to carry out whatever mischief they had in their minds and that it was a good time to hike to more fertile fields. Earlier in the evening Mr. Merritt had come to Rensselaer, accompanied by his wife and a neighbor lady to get his mother, who had been visiting here with John Merritt apd family. After taking his mother home, Mr. Merrit drove to Remington and met James Woods. The two of them decided to take a ride into the country and had gone but a short way when they were halted by the desperadoes and ordered to vacate the car. The new car, driven by the gang, has not (been seen in Remington since the robbery occurred and it is presumed that the stolen Ford has (been abandoned and that the entire hand has reunited and is now well without the clutches of the law.