110th Anniversary Look Back

110th Anniversary Look Back - Day 36

Today for #365daysofkegelhd we have part 1 of a theft that occurred in 1913 that all started with a bad check and was chronicled in the Freeport Daily Bulletin.

#kegel365 #harleydavidson #kegelhd #worldsoldest

TOUCHED FOR MOTORCYCLE

J. Kegel Trimmed by Smooth Rascal, Who Wants Best There Is.

GETS $312.50 MACHINE

Offers Worthless Check on Polo Bank in Payment and It is Accepted.

Joseph Kegel, motorcycle dealer on South Galena avenue, would like very much to get his hands on a smooth young stranger who swindled him out of a machine worth $312.50 Saturday morning. so would the police like to get him, and they are trying mighty hard to land him in the clutches of the law.

Saturday morning the man, who gave the name of Frank Lowery, and appeared to be about 21 or 22 years of age, entered the Kegel store and expressed a desire to purchase a motorcycle. He chose a seven horse power twin-cylinder Harley-Davidson, which he requested to be equipped with whistle, head light, prest-o-lite tank and luggage carrier, saying he would call later and settle for the outfit.

About 2 o'clock the fellow appeared with a check for $312.50 on a Polo bank, and tendered the same in payment for the machine. Mr. Kegel accepted the check. On presentation of the check to the bank yesterday Mr. Kegel learned that it was worthless.

Claimed to Be from Dakota

The shyster claimed to hail from Mitchell, S.D., and said that he was visiting relatives between Sterling and Polo. Investigation failed to reveal anyone who seems to know the man. Mr. Kegel has wired the chief of police of Mitchell asking whether the man is known there.

According to the description furnished the police, the fellow is about 21 or 22 years of age, brown hair, dark eyes, about 5 feet 10 inches high, and weighs about 140 pounds. At the time he rode away he had a dark pair of blue trousers, blue shirt, cap and a pair of light tan legging and a pair of new rubber goggles.

While Mr. Kegel and the police are making an effort to locate the fellow, he is likely a wise one and is many miles from here now.