Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1909 — AUTO MYSTERY PARTIALLY BUT NOT WHOLLY SOLVED. [ARTICLE]

AUTO MYSTERY PARTIALLY BUT NOT WHOLLY SOLVED.

Machine Was Left at Farm House and Later Destroyed by Unknown Parties and Thrown Into River. N The Kankakee river auto mystery has been at least partially solved, but parts of it are still clouded in deep mystery. It is now certain, however, that there was no tragedy connected with the mystery. Thursday of last week tw<dPmen who stated that they were from Chicago stopped at a farm house about 2% miles south of DeMotte. They were driving a Pope-Toledo four passenger car, which, they explained, had broken down and would require some repairs. They asked permission to leave the auto at the farm, and this was granted. The men then took parts of the automobile out and took them away with them. It is reported here that they took the engine, transmission, radiator, etc., out, and were not very particular how they got them out. The frame of the machine was left and remained in the barn yard at the farm until Saturday night when it seems to have been broken up and most of it hauled away'. It was Sunday that the first wheel was found in the river. Since that time two more wheels, the gasoline tank and one cylinder have been fished out of the river. There seems no doubt that this is the same machine which had been left by the Chicago parties as the parts of the car that were found are parts of a Pope-Toledo car. The unsolved part of the mystery now is who destroyed the car and what was the object. One theory is that the car had been stolen and that the thieves took out those parts that they thought they might be able to sell and later decided to dispose of the balance of the car and in that manner dispose of any evidence that might” incriminate them. Another theory is that some one living near the place where the car was left maliciously destroyed it and threw it into the river. It is now learned that Water Valley residents saw a buggy standing on the bridge for some time Saturday night. The mystery was sufficient to causa no small amount of conjecture and Sheriff Grant and others dragged the river Monday with the thought that some one might have lost their life in an automobile accident or that a murder may have taken place. There is some prospect of further unraveling the mystery, for if the Chicago parties fail to return for the car it will be a quite certain conclusion that the car was stolen, and the Chicago police may be able to trace the thieves. And if they do return they may have some theory as to the cause of its destruction by other parties. It seems a strange piece of vandalism which ever theory is correct.