Howard Courant
March 6, 1930
Herman Russell, a farmer of Oak Valley township, on his way home from Coffeyville one day last week, picked up a well-dressed pedestrian on the road, offering him a ride as he appeared to be walking in the same direction. The stranger appeared to be grateful, but they had gone but just a short distance till Mr. Russell was surprised, not to say shocked, when the stranger poked a big pistol in his ribs and ordered him to change his course toward Springfield, Missouri and to "step on it!" When they reached Carthage, the car ran out of gas, and the stranger jumped out and disappeared down the alley. Mr. Russell then turned around and after filling up with gas, came home, arriving about 2 a. m.
This is another argument against inviting strangers to jump in and ride.
And to think incidents like that happened back in the "Good Old Days!"