Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-05
BOY ALLEGED TO BE DRIVER OF
STOLEN CARS TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY.
BROTHER OF MAN NOW
SERVING PRISON SENTENCE
Former Mason City Youth Arrested at
Lacrosse, Wis.-To Be Returned to
iowa-AIleeed to Have Been Guilty
Of Actual Thefts Of Cars Taken by
Auto Bandit Gang.

/ Mason City, Oct. 5.-Another chap.
/ ter in the story of the running to earth
/ OF the Kehr-Hun band of auto thieves
J was written Sunday when the authori-
ties at Lacrosse, Wis, advised Sheriff
Marsh, thai they had arrested Winni-
fred kehr, youth of about IS, whom
The officers assert is the member OF
the crew who actually took most of the
six autos, completely in the theft Of
which was admitted by F. V. kehr and
Clarence Hunt.
Ninnlfrei is the younger brother OIL
F. V. Kehr, who with Clarence Hunt
is now serving a term of not more than
ten years II. prison. imposed by Judge
c. H. Kelley few weeks ago. He is
alleged to have been the chauffeur
large amount of real nerve in the TAX
| ing Of some OF the cars.
II was he. according TO the infor-
nation the sheriffs office has, who
drove away the Claus Cadillac. the
first of the stolen cars recovered, and
it was also Winnifred. the officers say,
who drove away the Kuppinger Jeffrey,
and the Potter Overland, last fall.
In the case of the Jeffrey. which was
parked near the Cecil Theater, the
young man had serious trouble start
ing the car. as he did not understand
the self starter, and was inexperienced
in handling four speed gears. With
the assistance of local auto dealer,
who kind heartedly cranked the car for
him, he finally got underway after
much shifting and clashing of gears in
plain sight OF large number OF people.
The authorities have not yet been able
TO learn who the man was who took
pity on young kehr, and help@d him
start the ear but expect TO learn this
when the young man is brought
back here.
Went to La Crosse.
Shortly after fleeing from Preston,
MINI. the day Deputy Sheriff Harry
Knapp arrived there to take F. ".
Kehr back 10 Mason City. Winifred
went to La Crosse. where he has
been most of the time since. a quiet
search has been underway ever since.
but the officers were not able to defin-
itely locate him until now.
His arrest was finally brought about
by his writing letter which fell into
the hands of the sheriff.
Under the impression. that was
general in the city until recently, that
the boy was an honest, STRAIGHTFORWARD
young fellow. kehr, supposedly with
the consen, Of his parents, had been
allowed to Join Company D. He wrote
on Sept IS to Capt. ]. NJ Heffner, ask
ing for his discharge from the organ
ization, because OF a permanent re-
moval from the home station, and also
saying that his age was misstated when
he Joined and that ne had no right to
be in the militia.
Captain Heffner, because D Company
is not harboring undesirables II the
officers ard men who compose it.
know il, turned the letter over TO
Sheriff Marsh. kehr's discharge was
already under way. but not in the
manner in which ne hoped to get it.
1t is serious military offense TO make
a fraudulent statement in an enlist
ment application.
Kehr in this letter gave his ad-
dress as Fourth and Division streets,
La Crosse, so Sheriff Marsh had the
La Crosse officers watch that adj
dress. giving a description OF the boy.
and the arrest followed.
Upon what is proven to be kehr' S
real age will depend his punishment.
should he be convicted of completely
in the thefts If he is but Is, as he
now claims. he would go to Eldora, but
IL he is nearly 10. as he stated when
he last swore to his age, he would go
to the Anamosa reformatory.