The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-12-04

DESCRIBES
KIDNAP INC
Mourned as Dead by Rela-
tives, Is Held in Chicago
for Theft of Own Car

Missing since Wednesday night Ano
mourned by his wife and children az
possibly dead, Joseph Krelich OF go
Mosse street, Hammond, was located
yesterday in the Cook county jail
where he is beng held for action BY
the grand jury on the parado1icai
charge OF having stolen his own auto
mobile as told in The Times yester
day.
To a reporter who visited the Jaii
yesterday. Krehch revealed the story
OF how he was virtually kidnapped b.
two men posing as Chicago police
men, brought TO this city. arrested By
two other officers on the trumpeu VI
charge. deprived Of his car, photo
graphed at the bureau Of Identified
tion, and railroaded to Jail to await
action by tho grand jury on a grant
larceny charge.
Buys Car in 1918.
The story goes back to July "a. 1918.
when Krelich, then IN the taxi bust
ness IN Gary. purchased cara Hud-
son Supersix-from Isadore Ferguson
Gary real estate dealer. for s1,a75
Krelich has the bill OF sale,
On June "a, 1920. Michael MilIus.
formerly of Gary and now residing al
3412 Montrose avenue. purchased the
car from Krelich.
"Millus offered TO pay me $500 fer
the car" said Krelich. He gave me
$500 cash and notes for the balance
The first note fell due on July as. Hs
failed to appear with the n1onay.
saw him several times after that, but
he kept putting me of. pleading sick
ness and one thing or another,
Court Awards Him Car.
Finally ! had the car seized IN Gary
around the frst of September and took
Milius into court The court awarded
me the car. Mllius kept trying 20 get
his $500 back or the car. told him
would hand over the car as soon a. he
paid the balance due.
"A week ago last Monday q man Ap-
peared at my home late at night. said
he was a Chicago police OFFICER, and
asked me If L would drive him to In
diana Harbor, where he could catch
the Lake Shore train for Chicago.
told him ! wasn't in the taxi business
any more but would accommodate him
drove him TO Indiana Harbor and
he paid me IS and dollar tip. Re
said he would be down that way agsaz
the following Monday. and promised
to make the same trip with h!ru.
Drives Men to Chicago
He failed to appear last Monday
but Wednesday evening he and ano
other police officer came TO my house
and said they had to get back to Chi
cago in a hurry TO attend . wedding.
drove them all the way In We
reached the Wilson avenue district
about o'clock and one Of the Eel
lows said he wanted to phone his wife
TO get ready for the wedding. When
he returned hs said he couldn't locate
his wife and suggested we have some
thing to eat. We went into a restaur-
ant near Lawrence avenue and Broad.
way. got through drst and was
about to climb into the car whom Pc
liceman Timothy Daily of the Chicago
avenue station grabbed me. He SAID
was wanted for stealing q car. gave
me no time to explain, and forced ma
to drive to the East Chicago a7erus
station.
They made ma put the car mp IN q
garage at ess North CLARK street. ana
wasn't permitted to see any one or
communicate with any one that night.
The next day I was taken into court
and Milius appeared ana testified
against me. Policemen Sack and DAILY,
have since learned. are personal
Irlen0S OF Minus was held TO tbs
grand jury and taken down to the
rogues' gallery and photographed I.
wasn't until I was on my way TO the
jail that I was permitted TO notify
friend Of my plight. John zagar.
banker at Twenty-fourth street and
Wentworth avenue.
DAILY and Sack offered to get me
lawyer. I told them 1 didn't want
lawyer Tomorrow I'm going to get
out on bonds, engage a lawyer. ana
take action against these policemen
and Milius. ! suppose I'll have to
pay a garage bill of SIS day to get
my car out
Arrest Is Explained.
Daily explained last night why he
made the arrest.
'Milius went before Judge Stewart
on Wednesday and obtained a warrant
for Krelichs arrest" said Daily They
called me UP and asked me II I would
serve tho warrant I told them l was
working nights. but they asked me If
I'd make the pinch if they brought
Krelich up near my house said ]
would I believe it was Milius or
those other fellows who brought Kre-
Itch to Chicago. They weren't police
men, but were just posing as coppers.
] went over and made the arrest near
my home at Lincoln and Lawrence
avenues"