Otto Gruel was mad. When thieves raided his chicken coops the night of Saturday, November 18, 1916, it was their second visit. Between the two raids on his farm east of Ainsworth, he had lost a hundred valuable chickens, valuable enough to prompt this offer of a $50 reward.
Within a couple of days, he had plenty of company in being mad. Late Monday evening, on the Price farm west of Ainsworth, Carrie Price noticed a flashlight moving around the two chicken coops behind the house. She called to the dog, and then to her husband, Fremont, but by the time he came to investigate, the thieves had disappeared along with a couple dozen fine young chickens.
The next morning, on the Mike Foreman farm just west of Ainsworth, the family discovered that nocturnal visitors had made off with two sheep from the barn and a quarter of beef from the granary.
"Farmers are up in arms," said the Gazette. I expect there were many loaded shotguns and watchful nights around Ainsworth for some time afterward.
Sources:
♦ "$50 Reward." Hobart Gazette 24 Nov. 1916.
♦ "Thieves Raid Farm Premises." Hobart Gazette 24 Nov. 1916.
Here's the page where Otto's notice appeared, for those of you who like reading (almost) full pages.
(Click on image to enlarge)
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