Typed as spelled and written
- Lena Stone Criswell


THE DAILY DEMOCRAT
Thirty-First Year - Number 90
Marlin, Texas, Saturday, August 15,  1931

'MISSING' CAR of CHIEF
RETURNED NEWLY PAINTED

'Disappearance' of Automobile From
Garage Traced to Marlin
Fireman.

       Bearing a new coat of scarlet paint and inscribed "Chief, M.F.D.," J. B. Billingsley's "missing" automobile was returned to him Friday afternoon' by Sheriff Reese, its "disappearance" having been traced to Marlin fireman.
       The sheriff said it had been in a Marlin paint shop the last two days, having been placed there by firemen desiring to give Chief Billingsley a surprise with its new coat of red.
       Officers were taken into confidence of instigators of the plan, being told the car actually "disappeared" from the owner's garage Wednesday evening.  However, Chief Billingsley did not miss it until late Thursday.
       Advised Friday afternoon that a car bearing his number and siren had been "recovered" but not answering the description given as to color, the Marlin fire chief was called to the courthouse to inspect it.  And today it was attracting quite a bit of attention about the Marlin fire station.

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Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by
The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.