Month: July 2025

News of a Crime Spree – 108 Years Ago Today

Candace W Leave a comment

1917 Oakland 5-passenger

TWO MORE AUTOS ARE STOLEN; ONE MACHINE RETURNED

LYLE GREEN, DAYTON DAIRYMAN LOSES CAR – FORD OWNED BY MILLINGTON MAN FOUND ON CENTER OTTAWA STREET – POLICE HAVE CLEWS

BULLETIN
Mr. Green’s machine was found a little before noon today near the Grand Ridge Cemetery, five miles south of Ottawa, where it had been abandoned by the thieves, after the tank became exhausted of gasoline. Mr. Petty recognized the car as belonging to Mr. Green and drove it into Ottawa. He turned it over to Sheriff Davis who in turn notified the owner of the recovery of his property.

Auto thieves, apparently of the juvenile variety, plied their game in Ottawa Saturday and Sunday evening when two machines were stolen from the loop district. One of the cars taken was owned by Lyle Green of Dayton. The Green car was an Oakland five passenger. No trace of the machine has been found. The other car was the property of George Wilson, of Millington and was recovered by the police last evening.

Police today say they have a line on the youths wanted for the theft, but refused to divulge any of their names. Information which will prove of much value, has been furnished the police and arrests of the youths, it is believed, will put an end to a crime wave that has been sweeping over the city the past few weeks.

Theft Saturday Night

The Wilson Ford was taken Saturday evening between 10 and 12 o’clock. Early Sunday morning a machine was abandoned in front of the residence of Bert Rose on Post street at 5 o’clock and the police were notified that a car had been left there. It was taken to the station and is being held there pending the arrival of Mr. Wilson from Millington to claim his property.

Take Dairyman’s Car

Lyle Green, Dayton dairyman, lost his Oakland car Sunday evening when he stopped in Geiger’s bakery. The machine was taken about 8:30 o’clock, a few minutes after Mr. Green went into the confectionery store. It is apparent the thieves were watching for Mr. Green to leave his car. Thus far no trace of the missing machine has been found.

Give Police Clew

That four Ottawa youths have keys that will start any machine in the city was learned today by Chief of Police Eurich. Whether or not the police have the names or identity of the youths, could not be learned.

Hundreds of cars are parked on the streets here at night and it is practically impossible for the police to know when the theft of a machine is being committed. Owners of cars are asked to take extra precautions to put an end to the trouble.1

Ford touring car

2 AUTOS STOLEN HERE ARE FOUND
Two “Joyriders” Run Cars Until Gasoline Gives Out

Ottawa’s bold gang of automobile joyriders kept the police busy over Saturday night and Sunday by stealing two machines, riding both until they ran out of gasoline, ending their hilarious sport each time by abandoning the cars, the first one on Post street and the second in Summit View cemetery in South Ottawa. Neither machine was damaged by the joyriders. Both were returned to their owners today.

Several suspects are under surveillance by the police and Sheriff’s office as the perpetrators of the theft of these cars and other machines from the streets of this city this summer for a little impromptu ride around the nearby country. It is also hinted by authorities that a couple of girls have participated in these rides with stolen machines.

Deserted on Street

George Wilson, of Millington, Ill., was the first to report his machine stolen to the police. Wilson came to Ottawa with a party of friends Saturday evening. He parked his car in front of the Orpheum theater about 10 o’clock. When he returned for it at midnight the machine was gone. The police searched diligently for the auto, which was a Ford touring car, throughout the night, but no trace of the machine was found.

All day Sunday persons residing in the vicinity of Post and Superior streets wondered at the deserted Ford car standing along the curb. Last evening Bert Rose reported the abandoned car at the police headquarters. The machine turned out to be Wilson’s, and was hauled to the police station. The owner said there was about enough gasoline to drive the car 30 miles when he left it. The gasoline tank was empty when the Ford was found.

Found By Garage Man

The second car taken was a five-passenger Oakland, and was owned by Lyle Green, prominent dairy farmer at Dayton, Ill. Green’s machine was apparently taken by the same band and stolen about 8:30 Sunday evening from the side of Geiger’s bakery on Jefferson street. At the time the car was pilfered Green was inside the bakery making a purchase.

When he found his car missing he reported the matter to the police, and a search was instigated for the stolen auto. No trace of it was found, although the police scoured the city from one end to the other in the police patrol.

George Petty, garage man, found Green’s car abandoned in Summit View cemetery at 11 o’clock this morning. He reported his find to the police, and the car proved to belong to the Dayton farmer.

The gasoline tank was dry in Green’s automobile, as had been the case with the other stolen machine.2

  1. Free Trader, July 30, 1917, p. 1, col. 2.
  2. Daily Republican Times, July 30, 1917, p.1, col 6.

Re-Rebuttal

Candace W 1 Comment

For background read part 1 and part 2 of this discussion.

In a former letter I exposed the action of a board of trustees of a certain church. That letter was answered, or rather an attempt was made to answer it, by one of the trustees. Now I owe it to the public, to myself, and to the editor, as a local correspondent of the Free Trader, to say a final word in regard to this matter. The parties to whom I owe my information are prominent and responsible men in the town. Among them I may mention Supervisor Beach, Messrs. Henderson, Brower, Hess, Debolt and others. If Wm. A. Greenlees desires satisfaction, let him go to these men, for from them I obtained my facts and information. They stand willing, every one, to substantiate everything said on this subject. That the public may not be deceived about the affair, these parties have sent me for publication the following statements:

First. – We are prepared to prove by prominent members and trustees of the church, and by the pastor in charge at the time the church was built, who circulated the petition for aid in its erection, that it was especially understood that it was to be used by other denominations when not conflicting with M. E. appointments, and two trustees were appointed to represent the outside interests. By this means some nineteen hundred dollars were raised outside of its members, and members gave on the above condition. The word “ORthoDOX” was not made use of at the time.

Second. – Wm. A. Greenlees, as trustee, also started out with a subscription paper stating that none but Methodists should use the house. But we have not heard that he succeeded in raising a dollar on those terms. And his own subscription and labor for it do not prove him to be so much more magnanimous than his neighbors, against whom he would bar its doors.

Third. – The present acting trustees seem to be fifty years behind the times in regard to religious liberty, as the following communication from one of them would show:
Serena, March 29, ’79
A. S. Henderson – Sir: I have Been wanting to see you for some time, But have not had time. So I’ll write you and aske you if you heled out the ida thet any and all denomenations could preach in the new M. E. Church when the subscription paper was precented, or did you say ORthoDOX” Now Mr. Henderson if the Unaverseles come under the head of ORthoDOX, then I am with you and will not hesetate to say the church shal be had, but if not you have no right to make the demand you have for I can tell you thet it was expresley understood that the church could be had when not used and it was all so understood it should be to some ORthoDOX denomenations. If I am right you went to far in saying we got money under fals pretence.
plese Answer this
yours Respectfully
Peter Jacobs.

(Mr. Henderson enclosed the above letter in this statement, sent us by the parties above mentioned, and we have it in our possession at the present time.) The statement continues: “If Wm. A. Greenlees had heeded the advice of King Solomon, which he quoted, we think he would never have written his article of April 10, and we would recommend his perusal of other quotations from the same source: “The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and He overthroweth the words of the transgressor.” “Be not a witness against they neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.”

Occasional1

So there!

  1. Ottawa Free Trader, May 3, 1879, p. 2, cols. 2-3

A Rebuttal

Candace W Leave a comment

This rebuttal is in response to this letter.

DAYTON, April 10. – In last weeks’ Free Trader I noticed a communication from Dayton signed “O. C.” purporting to give an explanation of a little difficulty which occurred at the church in West Serena. His informant has either stated a malicious falsehood or has undertaken to explain a matter without understanding the facts of the case.

In the first place, there is no such thing as a “union church” in West Serena, neither has any one ever contributed money to erect one, nor has any member of a Universalist church contributed money to build a church in West Serena to my knowledge. If there has, will your correspondent please give the names. It is true that the people generally contributed liberally to build a church, but it was certainly with an understanding that it was to be a Methodist church and there was no chance for deception with any one who read the subscription paper, nor were the men who signed the preamble and resolution demanding the use of the house for Mrs. Gibb deceived in the least, as their own resolution shows. Furthermore, their own lady minister requested them not to apply for the use of the church and announced her appointment for that day at the new schoolhouse in Dist. No. 1.

Secondly, our minister has not, on any public occasion, said one word against Mrs. Gibb to my knowledge. What was said publicly was by the presiding elder.

Thirdly, there has no christian denomination been refused the use of the house, nor will there be if it does not conflict with regular appointments. Fourthly, as regards these “conscientious swindlers” who deceived their neighbors when money was wanted to build a church, I may state that Mr. Hall was not a member of the board at the time the church was built; therefore no blame can attach to him. As regards the other two, we challenge your correspondent or any one to show that we used deception to raise money to build the church or made one promise that has not been faithfully kept. We do not deny that the promise was made that the church should be free to other orthodox denominations when not conflicting with the M. E. appointments and this promise will be kept. Had your correspondent read what wise men had said in sacred writ instead of Shakespeare, he would not have troubled you to publish such a slanderous article, nor would he have troubled those of your readers who love truth rather than slander, for Solomon says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight.”
WM. A. GREENLEES.1

It’s not over yet – see next week for the final installment.

  1. Ottawa Free Trader, April 12, 1879, p. 8, col. 2

The Principles of Christianity and an Explanation

Candace W 16 Comments

A case of – what shall we call it – stubborn selfishness (?) occurred last Sabbath not far from this place. A church was solicited by parties who had paid liberally towards its erection, as a Union church, for preaching in it by our lady minister, Mrs. Gibb. The idea was hooted at and members of the congregation who were in favor of it were not allowed to speak. Certainly there could have been no gallantry among the gentlemen of the congregation or they would not have so violently opposed the lady’s speaking. Query: Is their action based on the principles of Christianity.1

As it happened, that question was answered soon after:

In our last letter (of March 19) we raised the Query, “Is their action based on the principles of Christianity?” We now have an answer, but that the reader may better understand the whole matter we will endeavor to explain:

When the “Union” church was erected at West Serena, the Universalists and people of no church, contributed liberally with the expressed promise that when not in use by the Methodist Episcopal people, the church should be free to any other Christian denomination or people, (the Mormons, I believe, excepted.) Up to this date no denomination but the M. E. has had any control or use of the house.

The Universalist denomination have been holding meetings at the school-house in Wedron during the past winter, but the United Brethren of that place wishing to hold a quarterly meeting at the regular appointment, Rev. Mrs. Gibb, pastor of the Universalist church at Sheridan, and congregations at Wedron and Dayton, very properly, in the true Christian spirit, gave way to accommodate them. It then became necessary to find another place to hold their meetings, and it was suggested that the West Serena church would be the place provided it could be obtained for a single service. Messrs. Debolt and Henderson made the request, but were flatly denied by the minister and people generally and the minister took occasion to use very harsh and unbecoming language toward Rev. Mrs. Gibb.

Messrs. Brower, Hess and others having contributed very liberally to the building, with the above named stipulation as to the use of the same, after being refused applied in writing to the Trustees for a compliance with the agreement or a return of the money which they had contributed under the agreement.

To this the Trustees, Messrs. Peter Jacobs, James Hall and Wm. A. Greenlees, replied over their own signatures: “We, as Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of West Serena, feel that we cannot conscientiously comply with your request.”

So it is altogether a matter of conscience. A case of official conscience! These men of very tender conscience found no difficulty in deceiving their neighbors when money was wanted for the church, but find this meddler conscience, which Shakespeare says “makes cowards of us all,” an impediment to common honesty when there is an opportunity to redeem a promise.

No their action is not based on Christianity, but is of that character of pious fraud that is giving strength to infidelity by exhibiting the hypocrisy of so much that professes to be so pure and Christlike. No use for skeptics to invite Ingersoll to West Serena. These trustees and their minister will drive men further from the cause they so luminously misrepresent, than Bob can persuade them.2

As you might expect, this response did not go unnoticed. Tune in next week for the next installment.

  1. Ottawa Free Trader, March 29, 1879, p. 2, col. 4
  2. Ottawa Free Trader, April 5, 1879, p. 4, col. 6

Alternatives to Cash

Candace W Leave a comment

In the 1840s cash was relatively scarce, and much of the local economy still operated on barter and informal credit systems, as shown by this advertisement from the Greens’ woolen factory.

Wheat Wanted

The subscribers would say to those indebted to them, either by note or book account, that they will receive wheat in payment for their dues, if delivered soon at John Green’s Mills, Dayton, for which the highest market prices will be given.

They have an assortment of good grey, brown and black fulled clothes; satinette; jeans; tweeds; red, white and pressed flannels, of a superior quality, which they are offering at prices that will make it an object for persons desirous of encouraging domestic manufactures to give us a call, and examine the goods we are now making.

The highest price will be allowed for wheat, in exchange for our cloths.

J. & D. GREEN
Dayton Factory, Aug. 15

  1. The Ottawa Free Trader, August 15, 1845, p. 3, col. 1