Russell County Kansas Newspaper Articles

RUSSELL COUNTY, KANSAS

NEWS ARTICLES

KEIL IS RETURNED TO RUSSELL COUNTY

Leroy David Keil, charged with stealing oil pipe in Russell county, was returned here for trial from Abilene TX. He was arrested at the Cactus Courts in Abilene on a tip given by his brother-in-law.

Keil has been missing since Oct. 1948. Several leads were uncovered, but officers were unable to apprehend him until now. The fugitive is charged with taking 15 joints of pipe from L.W. Murfin, three joints from Shields Oil Producers and 12 joints from Dwight Shawber.

At the time, pipe thefts had been occurring for several months in Russell, Barton and McPherson counties. Members of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted officials from Russell, Barton and Sedgwick counties in tracing down the pipe thefts.

Several companies were reported affected. They were not, however, listed on the complaint against Keil. Included were Derby Oil Co., Sidney Oil Co., B. and R. Drillin Inc., The rapid Drilling Co., and Sohio Petroleum Co.

Keil was picked up in Texas by Sheriff Milton Gayartdt and County Commissioner J.A. Evans. The brother-in-law who gave information leading to Keil's apprehension, was himself held in custody by officers. It was then he said he knew of a man wanted in this state on felony charges. (The Salina Journal, February 11, 1951, submitted by Christine Walters)