Salt Lake Telegram | 1917-12-07 | Page 10 | Epidemic of Chicken Thefts Spreads Rapidly in Salt Lake

e EPIDEMIC OF CHICKEN THEFTS SPREADS RAPIDLY IN SALT LAKE HICKE thieves are operating operating operating C CHICKEN ing on a wholesale scale in Salt Lake county according to reports received by Sheriff Sheriff Sheriff Sher Sher- iff John S. S Corless Two deputies J J. J II hI an and W. W II H. Hendrickson Hendrickson Hendrickson Hen- Hen have been assigned to track down the marauders whose plunder has been so heavy that the sheriff now regards them as important criminals ranking with bank robbers D. D J. J Barker of Granger is the hea heavy vy los loser r. r He repotted reported to the sheriffs sheriff's ec that his chicken ranch had been looted and prime pullets valued at it 1 each stolen He lie says the criminals were clever enough to leave little in ii the way of a clue though the ground round was white with snow now on which the thieves would have left tracks had they not taken considerable consid consid- erable crable precaution A. A D. D Smith 1660 South Sixth West street is 18 another loser The chicken thieves visited his place last night and a number of birds wore were stolen The officers are convinced that the theft was committed com corn by the same persons who robbed the Barker ranch With Ith chickens bringing prices which make them more valuable than they have ever been before In hi hithe the history of the state Officers and Hendrickson believe that highly professional crooks have hava turned from homes of the I wealthy to the erstwhile humble as a field Of Operations They think the thc stolen chickens will be thrown on the market possibly being shipped East The offic officers rs pointed out that the now highly valuable poultry is left practically unguarded In a great many nany roosts lea leaving for the thieves rich loot much more easily I obtained than is the Jewelry of the wealthy which they have formerly sought