Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1917 — MICHAELS MAY BE RELEASED [ARTICLE]

MICHAELS MAY BE RELEASED

Mayor Spitler Desirous of Giving Youth Another Chance. Clarence Michaels, who was arrested in Chicago last week on a charge of stealing an automobile belonging to Louis Misch of Wheatfield, near where the former resided at one time, was brought her? Wednesday afternoon by Sheriff McColly and lodged in jail. Yesterday forenoon he wa| taken before Mayor Spitler and plead guilty to the charge of driving an automobile without the owner’s consent, which had been preferred against him as it was thought by the officers that a charge of larceny could not be made strong enough to secure a conviction. Michaels is but 20 years old and, according to the information given us, he has not a mature mind. After taking the car he drove about Wheatfield and spoke to several people whom he knew before departing for Chicago. Upon arriving in Chicago he took the car to a garage for some repairing and gave the name of Louis Misch. These facts were all given careful consideration by Mayor Spitler, and he deemed it an unwise move to sentence the lad to a penal institution if he could be made to work and repay the owner of the car for the loss sustained by him. Accordingly the mayor wrote to the boy’s father in Chicago yesterday and if he will put up about $75 to reimburse Mr. Misch and promise to keep the youfag man at work until he has repaid the sum, Mayor Spitler would suspend sentence. Following the hearing Michaels was returned to jail and at the time of going to press nothing further had been done, nor probably will not be until some Word has been received from the prisoner’s father. It is understood that Deputy Prosecutor Sands and Mr. Misch take the same view of the matter as Mayor Spitler does.