Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1919 — AUTOMOBILE THIEVES ABROAD [ARTICLE]

AUTOMOBILE THIEVES ABROAD

Attempt Mmif to Steal W. C. Babcock’s Car Wednesday .\\lgiit. An unsuccessful attempt to steal the W. C. Babcock Hudson car from the garage In the rear of bls home on College avenue was made some time between 12 and 4 o’clock Thursday morning. The car had evidently been backed out of the garage to the street by hand, and It was therefore evident that at least two persons were concerned in the attempted theft. On reaching the street the car was headed south and had probably run from its own momentum down the grade to about where the Makeover sewer crosses the street, where it was found at 6 o’clock Thursday morning. The starting battery had gone dead Wednesday afternoon and Mr. Babcock had secured a new battery to replace It but fortunately had not yet put same in. The car cranks very hard, and the thieves not being able to use the starter had evidently been unable to start it by hand either, consequently the car was abandoned In the street where found when daylight came. People passing along the street as late as midnight saw nothing of the car, but shortly after 4, some one else in going by saw it In the street. Therefore the attempt to drive it away must have been made between 12 and 4 o’clock. Robert Reeve had driven the Reeve Ford car over to Morocco the same night and on Thursday morning found that two extra, casings were gone from the car, hut whether they were taken at Morocco or they had lost off on the way home or were taken after he had reached here, he is unable to say.