Black Sheep Sunday

     Black Sheep Sunday is for sharing about a scandalous ancestor in my family tree.  I think scandalous can be anything from petty theft to murder and everything in between.  Remember, there is no judgment here.  I am just sharing interesting stories about my ancestors and relatives.  

    It seems that Gary Paul Whitney (1937-2020) got into a bit of trouble when he stole a tire off a car that was taken on a demo drive from a used car lot.  What amazes me is how sneakily brilliant he was to think of such a way to "escape" police custody.  It sounds like he lived on the streets, so he had to be smart to survive.

Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Wednesday, May 13, 1959, Page 33

"Suspect Flees Jail

Man Held in Tire Theft ‘Walks Out’ on Police During Questioning

Two men charged with stealing a tire from a car borrowed from a used car lot are being sought by Lansing police.

Detectives Tuesday arrested Gary Paul Whitney, 21, no home. While being questioned at police headquarters he escaped.

Whitney, police said, obtained a key to the washroom from a desk officer who did not know he was under arrest, and walked away.

He is described as 5 ft. 6 in., 140 lbs., black wavy hair and wearing glasses.

Also sought is Richard Ribby, 20, no home, who is charged with being Whitney’s accomplice. Ribby is described as being 6 ft., 170 lbs., blond hair and blue eyes.

The pair borrowed the car from the Bondy and Bigelow Motor Sales, 1018 S. Washington ave., Tuesday afternoon for a demonstration drive and removed the tire, police charged." - Transcribed by ChatGPT

Lansing State Journal
Lansing Michigan
Saturday June 13, 1959, Page 9

    So evidently they caught him. It doesn't state that escape was added to his other charges.

    Then in the Thursday, July 2, 1959 edition of the Lansing State Journal, page 21, we find:

Law's Arm Falls Heavily upon 11 in Circuit Court

... "Gary Paul Whitney, 21, of 621 Cherry st., charged with larceny from a motor vehicle, was sentenced to a term of 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison."

    Wow! He was "heavily" punished for stealing that tire.  Perhaps the escape did play into it somehow, even though the article doesn't specifically say.  Unfortunately, I do not know exactly how long he ended up serving for this crime; however, I did find that he did not completely stay out of trouble the rest of his life.  

Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Thursday, September 7, 1967, Page 39

While I do not know the outcome of this case, I can say I did not find any more indications of Gary getting into trouble again.  

Gary was married to my 3rd cousin 1x removed, Virginia Ann Barwick.  Our common ancestors are Francis Bryant Drake and Selina Henlee King Drake.