The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-03-14
YOUNG AUTO THIEF
Is CAUGHT HERE
Deputy Hayden Arrests Lad who
Gave Officers Merry Chase
Down the Valley

II A young lad who claims to be George
Calvin, of Tacoma, and who says he
is only Is years of age, was arrested
at the S., P. & S. depot yesterday aft
ternoon by Deputy Chief of Police
Hayden on advises from the sheriff S
office in Yakima.
II Young Calvin boldly rode away in
S. R. McCaws' big seven passenger
Velie car Monday afternoon and had
rather an exciting chase with officers
of the law down the valley. Between
Chandler end Sunnyside the supply of
gasoline in the car gave out and the
young thief was forced to abandon it.
At Grandview he bought a ticket and
boarded the O-W. train which arrives
here at 1890. Deputy Hayden had
been notified to be on the lookout for
the youngster, but before he could get
to the O-W. station the fugitive had
walked across to the S., P. & S. station
where we was arrested. He was re-
turned to North Yakima last night in
custody of Sheriff Duffy.
Of the young fellows escapade the
Yakima Republic says:
The car is the property of S. r. Nc
Cav. When McCaw was in the Rainier
Groceryyesterday afternoon, he saw a
young man enter his car and drive
away. The owner notified police head
quarters and every policeman on his
beat was on the lookout. But the car
thief was out of the city before the
city police knew of the theft. The
sheriff's office was then notified and
word of the stolen car was sent broad
cast over the valley.
Constable Charles Gay, of Toppenish
was on the lookout and nabbed his
man at Parker Bottom. Driving on
with his prisoner to the Bert Flechter
place at the road crossing, he stopped
to telephone the news of his capture
to the sheriff's office in Yakima.
When they stopped, the young man
got out of the car with the officer and
accompanied him to the house, but on
the pretense of desiring to make some
minor repair to the machine, returned
to it, leaving the constable at the
Flechter dwelling. Upon reaching the
car, the prisoner jumped in and again !
took flight. The car was in good run
ming order, and in very few minutes |
the fleeing prisoner was out of sight.
Constable Gay, accompanied by Mr..
Flechter, gave chase as soon as they
could get another car, but the car
thief had too much start. They never
caught sight of him again.
Headed for White Bluffs
A little after midnight this morning |
DR.. A. C. Riemcke, returning from
call in the lower part of the county,
met man driving a Velie car with
yellow lights, corresponding to those
of the McCaw car, near Grandview.
Another car was close behind DR.. I
Reimcke's and when they met the
Velie, the driver slowed down almost
to a stop, giving the two cars he was
meeting all the right-of-way. The
driver of the Velie was not observed
close enough for Identification, but he
is believed to be the car thief, and
quite likely headed for White Bluffs. |
Upon reaching Sunnyside later and
hearing Of the stolen car, DR.. Reimcke
told the officers at that place Of meet
ing the man in the Velie at Grandview.
The car thief is described as about
18 years old and pretty well dressed,
wearing q green hat. He had on an
overcoat when starting on his esca-
pade.
Wanted for Other Thefts
His bold act in taking the car and
making his getaway on the principal
thorofare of the city in broad day
light, is believed to be due to the ac-
tivity of the police in running down
the party who robbed the Watkins Coal
Company Office last Friday. The front
of the till of the coal company was
pried off and $75 in cash and watch
taken.
Had he tarried few minutes longer
in the city, the car thief would have
been in custody Of the officers to an
swer for the things stolen from the