The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-26
AUTO THIEF
TELLS STORY
Of JOY RIDERS
Writes Tribune He Is Poor
but Honest, and Has a
Cultivated Taste for
Automobiles.
ADMITS THREE THEFTS
IN LAST TWO WEEKS
Letter and Description of
Messenger Delivering 1t
Given to Police; Many
Cars Taken.


called an automobile thief. He said
so very frankly in letter TO The
Tribune, received last night from n
messenger boy. who brought it to the
office and left without saying where
it was from or what it contained. The
letter was signed Careful Driver,
but previously had been signed by
"H. A. Stone and then the signature
partly erased.
The letter follows;
Dear Mr.. Automobile Owner:
am a poor but honest man, so
let no one say 7 steal. T like to
ride In an auto, but poverty pre-
vents If use your car it is only
borrowed and will be returned in
as good condition as I found it
barring accidents,
Unfortunately, when I borrowed
car No. IFS, we met with q slight
mlshap, but I assure you, Mr..
Whitney, it was wholly unavoid-
able.
We took ride In car No, 6 and,
save few gallons of gas, nothing
was destroyed or injured. Ask Mr..
Sharman If this is not So
Had Slight Mixup.
We got in wrong on car No.
1897, and had bad mixup. I was
looking out too much for the
peeler or we would not have had
that collision. We are very sorry,
Mr.. Nebeker.
In order to crafty my culti-
waited taste for Joy riding, we shall
have to continue to borrow. There
fore kindly have plenty Of gas
and oil when your car Is standing
around
Yours,
CAREFUL DRIVER.
Investigation proved that the three
cars mentioned had been stolen, presum-
ably for Joy rides, within the last two
weeks. Similar thefts have been re-
ported to the police during the past
year with frequent regularity, but the
identity Of the man who has "culti-
waited" taste for joy riding has re-
NAMED mystery.
Oar No. 17s, mentioned in the forego-
ing letter, Is owned by 8. A. Whitney. II
was stolen last Sunday night from in
front OF the Whitney residence, 21s
First avenue, 1t was found by the
police the next morning on Tenth South
street.
Took Sharman Car.
Car No. is owned by g. q.
Sharman Of the Sharman Automobile
company. Mrs. Sharman was using
the machine on tho evening Of October
le, Mr.. sharman being out of
the city on business, The car stood in
front Of 140 South Second East street
When Mrs. Shnrman went to get II
the car was gone. She was much per
turbed and Immediately telephoned the
employees Of her husbands garage
They found it later in the evening on
Second avenue. Mrs. Shnrmau said last
after when she drove it, so Careful
Driver will be out one FFioy wagon. y
Car No. 1897 is the property OF
Frank K. Nebeker. 1t was taken From
In front Of the Judge building about
o clock Friday evening, At 8 o. 'clock
1t crashed into buggy occupied by
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Cough on Seventh
South below Eleventh East street. The
lone occupant gave his name to Mr.
and Mrs. Cough as ." Il, A, Stone" the
same as the one which had been partly
erased on tho letter received by The
Tribune. The man then departed. The
police attempted to follow his trail ano
learned that he boarded a street car
went further down the street and called
for young woman. The two returnei
On another car going toward tho up
town district. They could not be traced
further, but the police believe that tn,
man was on his way to get the cir
and take her for Hjoy ride1 at 1h,
time the collision upset his plans.
And thus the mystery stands
Stone frankly advises automobil,
owners that he intends 10 have NOR,
| Joy rides and that his poverty will
compel him to "borrow'' cars. n,
| oven requests the owners TO bay,
plenty Of gasoline and oil on hand TO
his convenience. Evidently he is NOR,
| or less of an expert driver.
Last night the letter was turned owe
| to the police 4 description OF tn,
messenger. boy who brought the lette
| TO The Tribune was also furnished. A,
immediate investigation was started.