Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1902 — SKIPPED OUT TO AVOID ARREST. [ARTICLE]

SKIPPED OUT TO AVOID ARREST.

Two Young Farmers Near Fair Oaks Stole Harness and Skipped When About To Be Arrested. On Wednesday night of last week two sets of harness were stolen from the barn of a farmer living close to Hopkins, in Newton county. The theft was discovered the next morning and the thieves tracked to one of the Kent farms near Fair Oaks, occupied by two brothers of the name of Weigrink. On arriving at their house one of the boys was found mending one of the sets of harness, and the other set was found without any trouble. On the way over from Hopkins the gentleman from whom the harness was stolen was telling those who accompanied him about having another harness stolen some two or three years previous, and described it. In the search of the premises this harness was also found After the discovery of the property in their possession and before papers for their arrest could be made out, the boys both left the country, and are probably in some distant state by this time. The Weigrinks had been considered honest, straightforward young men and had they wanted money to purchase more harness could have borrowed it of almost anyone who knew them at Fair Oaks. What possessed them to steal this property is beyond the comprehension of their friends.