Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1920 — THIS FLIRTING WITH REFORM SCHOOL [ARTICLE]

THIS FLIRTING WITH REFORM SCHOOL

A Rensselaer lad who has been such a source of trouble to his parents, the authorities and citizens in general for the past several months, continued his meddlesome ways Sunday, thereby greatly inconveniencing the ■ owners of three automobiles. The patience of all has just about been exhausted and if the youngster continues his ways he will no doubt soon find himself in a reform school.. His Sunday stunt was to remove the switch keys of three automobiles which were standing in front of the Methodist church during the morning services. At the close of the services the owners of the cars, M. I. Adams, Dr. H. L. Brown and John Bill, found their cars locked and their keys gone. Upon inquiry they learned that a certain boy had been playing around the cars. Mr. Adams went to the boy’s home and questioned him. The lad stoutly denied having taken the keys, but Mr. Adams was not convinced and returned later in the day, only to be told the same story. As a last resort Mr. Adams offered the boy a reward of a dollar if he would return .the keys by evening and left. When evening came the father of the boy sent word to Mr. Adams that he could havje the keys if he would come after them. Mr. Adams again went to the home and was not only given the three keys which had been taken in the morning but two others as well. He offered the father the dollar reward, but it was refused. However, when it was tendered to the youngster he readily accepted it. Mr. Adams did not feel that the youngster was deserving of a reward for the return of something which he had acquired dishonestly, but saw no way of getting the’stolen property back. When a child is permitted to accept a reward for returning property he has stolen it is time for the authorities to take him in tow. Our citizens have just about exhausted their patience in this youngster’s case. Mr. Adams has the two extra keys and will gladly return them to the rightful owners if they will inof their loss.