Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1920 — ALLEGED AUTO THIEVES FREED [ARTICLE]

ALLEGED AUTO THIEVES FREED

Jury Acquits Them of Charge After Two Hours Consultation. Merle Casper and Lester Mannis, the two Newton oOunty prisoners who have occupied the county jail; since July on charges of stealing an 1 automobile at Mdrocco on the night of July 5, belonging to Arthur Cooper of , near Brook, were acquitted by a jury in -the" Newton circuit court Wednesday afternoon, the jury deliberating about two hours before reaching •> verdict. The boys were defended by Attorney W. J. Reed of Knox, a former resident of Jordan township and for a number of years a welt known school teacher of Jasper county. Mr. Reed had. a large number of witnesses from the vicinity of the boys’ home and made out such a complete alibi for them that the jury was evidently convinced that they were innocent of the crime charged. 4 > The beys laid the crime of stealing the car onto Henry Heineman of Chicago, who was with them when They were arrested in Starke county on a charge of stealing a car near Plymouth, but at a hearing held there all were released, the latter immediately leaving for parts ■unknown, and is reported to have later enlisted in the army service. There is a still another charge, that of breaking into the home of Boyd Weishaar of near Brook, and stealing some articles therefrom, and the trial on this charge will come up at the next term of court in Newton bounty. They were brought back, to Rensselaer Wednesday evening and will continue to “reside” in the Jasper county bastile until their trial takes place, unless they succeed in furniahing bond, which has been fixed at SSOO each.