Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-25
ARREST MADE AS PAIR
WERE ON WAY TO
CHICAGO
HAD ST. LOUIS AUTO
ONE OF SUSPECTS ACCUSES COM
PANioN or THEFT WHILE THE
LATTER REFUSES TO TALK -
MADE GET AWAY LAST NIGHT.

An unknown voice over a country
telephone line today, gave Sheriff c.
$. Ayers "A tip which resulted in the
recovery of new Maxwell touring
car which was stolen last night In
St Louis, and the apprehension Of the
two auto thieves One of the men,
after insisting that the machine be
longed to his brother, at last broke
down and admitted that II was a
stolen car. He claimed, however, that
he didn't know of the theft, until af-
ter he and his companion were far
from st. Louis.
The pair in whose custody the auto
was found were Carl Niswander aged
% of Elkhart Ind, and George Yer
not. aged 2 OF Frederickstown, Mo
An aged man, and "A University Of
Chicago student, who had been pick
ed up by the pair for lift, were rid
ing in the rear seat of the machine
when the officer recovered it. They
were allowed to go free after the
authorities were satisfied that they
were in no way connected with the
theft.
The auto belongs to William II Ect-
els, la03 st. Louis avenue, East St.
Louis, Ill. when the pair were Hrst ar
rested both insisted that the auto be-
longed to a brother of Vernot when
taken to jail, Vernot weakened and
told the authorities that the auto was
stolen.
In Inn I'D ttrhi igh hp al
found in the car and at first insisted
belonged to his brother Later he told
OF finding the card, which bore Mr.
Eckels name and address.
According to Vernots story. he went
to st. Louis from Fredericktown last
week to visit his brother. He said
he was unable to locate him. On Fri
day night, he alleged he met NisWan-
der, who represented himself to be
travelling man He claims that he told
Niswander his story. and the latter Of
fered to employ him to drive his auto
for $40 month He says he accept
cd the job on the spot.
Vernot alleged that Niswander hung
around St Louis until last night, and
that he never saw any sign Of his au'".
Early last evening, he claims, he
and Niswander walked down the
street, The latter, he alleges went
over to a car at the curbing, and
stepping in stated that the auto be.
longed to him. He said Niswander
had some keys in his pocket, which
fitted the car, and the pair drove away
A short time after they left St.
Louis, he said, he found Eckels'
license card in the machine and at
once became suspicious. He said he
intended leaving Niswander in Otta.
wa.
The old man, claimed to be a glass
blower en- route to Indiana in quest
OF work. He was picked up at Chilli
cothe. The other man was a Univer-
sity of Chicago student, walking to
Chicago to save railroad fare. He was
picked up just east Of Chillicothe.
The voice over the wire, which led
to the arrest Of the pair, stated that
the men tried to sell tire and some
other accessories just west of town.
Sheriff Ayers jumped in his machine,
and rushed out the hard road, and
found them buying gasoline from a
truck out by the Bellrose Sand Co,
Niswander and Vernot We're lock,
ed in the county Jail, and the St Louis
authorities were notified of their ar
rest.
Admits Car Is Stolen.
Niswander admitted this afternoon
that the car in which he was riding
was stolen one.