Chicken thefts seem to have diminished across the heartland as the years have passed, but back in late summer, 1932, Lucas County law enforcement devoted considerable time and attention to the case of 14 purloined pullets plucked from a corn field south of Chariton. Here's the initial story in The Chariton Leader of August 30:
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Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Vance of Seymour are being held in the Lucas county jail today while H. N. Smith, deputy sheriff, is checking their story of the ownership of 14 chickens found in their possession here Tuesday morning.
Jay Snook, of near Chariton, reported to Sheriff J.H. Smith early this morning that he had seen someone carrying chickens in a sack from his corn field approximately one mile south of Chariton.
Smith came to Chariton and was accompanied by Sheriff Smith on a trip to the farm where they met the car driven by Mr. and Mrs. Vance nearing Chariton. Snook identified the car and Vance as the machine and the man he had seen near is cornfield earlier in the morning.
An investigation made in the field this afternoon indicated that the chickens had lain in the field for some time.
Brought to Chariton and questioned, Vance claimed that he had raised the chickens at his home near Seymour and was bringing them to Chariton to market. However, the stories told by his wife and himself to H.V. Levis, county attorney, were so conflicting that an investigation was ordered.
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The Herald-Patriot of Thursday, Sept. 1, carried this follow-up story under the headline, "Seymour Couple Is Held in Jail without Charge for Third Day:"
Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Vance of Seymour were still being held in the Lucas county jail late Thursday afternoon while county officials attempted to check up on their story in regard to the ownership of the chickens found in their possession last Tuesday morning.
No charge has been preferred against the Seymour people and no charge was being contemplated as far as Sheriff J. H. Smith knew. From information secured at Seymour Tuesday by H.N. Smith, deputy sheriff, it was evident that the story of raising the chickens in Seymour was false.
At the county jail this afternoon, Mrs. Vance, 56, shivered in a cloth coat while she told of her arrest. Asked where she obtained the chickens, she consistently refused to make any statement other than "ask my husband." Thursday marked the third day of Mr. and Mrs. Vance's confinement.
H.V. Levis, county attorney, said today that the Seymour couple would be held at least for the remainder of Thursday pending further investigation.
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A week later, still in jail, charges of receiving and having in their possession stolen property were filed against Mr. and Mrs. Vance and they were brought before Justice J.C. Seward on Wednesday, Sept. 6, found guilty and fined $50. Since they could not pay the fine, they were ordered to serve more time in the jail, although the length of the term was unspecified in news reports and I could find no follow-up.
Follow up for the alleged chicken thieves, that is The following report regarding the old hens was published in The Heralld-Patriot of Sept. 13:
It's census time again. That is, it will be to the advantage of some Lucas county chicken grower to count noses on his hen roost.
Sheriff John H. Smith now has in his possession 14 fowls, belonging to almost as many different chicken families, which are the property of some Lucas count chicken raiser. They were taken by the sheriff from one who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and are now being held pending identification by the owner.
In the flock of 14 chickens are Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, black chickens and white chickens. And all that is necessary for the return of these stolen fowls is for the owner to pay a visit to the sheriff and identify the homeless chickens.
Take an inventory of your fowl family today. Some of your chickens may be in jail as a result of the kidnapping proclivities of slick-fingered chicken fanciers.
Note: The Buff Orpington used as an illustration here held court at a recent Lucas County Fair.
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