Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-02
0VERPOWER TAXI
DRIVER; TAKE CAR
YOUTHFUL CAR THIEVES SHOW
UNUSUAL DARING IN
ROBBERY.
DRIVER SECURELY BOUND
AND TOSSED FROM AUTO
Found Forty five Minutes later by
Side of Road Near Pioksrinu-Em.
pioyss Of Auto SAlss Company
Able to Give Good Description Of
Thieves.

The most daring Of the many auto
petratcd in this county was commit
ted this forenoon. when two strang-
err engaged taxi from the Auto
Sales Company, went to near Pick
cring. oyerpowerAd the driver and es-
capped with the car. The driver, Wal
ter Gerke, bound hand and foot, was
thrown from the car to the side of
the road and was not found until
about forty-flve minutes later. when
ne was discovered by a passing
farmer
The two men, apparently not more
the y or % years OF age. appeared at
the taxi office and were seen by sew
eral OF the employees, who were able
70 give fair description Of the mon.
0verpo~er Young Driver.
The men called the taxi Office about
10 o'clock. asking for taxi to be
sent to the Pilgrim hotel. Before the
taxi could set there tho two men an.
pcaT6d at the OlrlCe. saying they
would start from there ON a trip to
Pickering. They occupied, the rear
seat OF the Paige car and nothing CO.
Cured during the Journey to arouse
the suspicious OF the driver until a
point short distance north Of Pick
ering was reached. Then tho men sud
denly, set upon the driver and over
powered him.
Gerke's hands and feet were bound
with rope and he was tossed out OF
the car, He was pulled back from
the road whore he WAS partly hidden
BY weeds and grass.
Found Forty Five Minute. Later.
Gerke shouted for assistance but Il
was ABOUT forty-hye minutes before
any ono passed. A farmer. hearing
his cries. went to his assistance and
released him. Gerke was not In
jured.
Tho theft was Immediately reported
rom the nearest telephone. and Roy
II. Spratt, Of the taxi company at
once notified the sherife's office and
fhe police. Deputy Sheriff. w. A. gtarn
Immediately left for Pickering.
AT tho Auto Sales Company offices
Il was said the men were about 81 or
22 years Of age and were OF medium
size. The one transaoting the bust.
ness at the office had medium leht
hair. and wore : blue shirt dark cop
and q dark suit. Tho other. who pa
NAMED In the bAckxround, was small
or OF stature. and wore q dark suit
and cap. The boys were described a.
Weighing about 40 pounds.
The Pilgrim re9iAter shows only
two mon registered together from the
same place. G. Hills and G. w.
Fisher. OF Logan. A description Of
these two men answers In Z GENERAL
way that given OF the car thieves BY
the bookkepper at the Auto sales
COMPANY OFFICES Hills ana Fisher
checked out from the hotel about 4: 30
this morning.
Car Essily identified.
The stolen car is easy OF tdentifl.
cation. It II a light Paige six, with
green body and black trimmings. The
hub cap IS missing from the left hand
front wheel. The car IL equipped with
home made dome light. The motor
number II 200s4o. The car was q
Glenbrook 1920 model. A new Black-
hawk tirO had been recently put on,
and tho spare tire, which had lust
boon repaired. had been put on the
machine this morning. An old tire
was carried on the rear.