Together in Memory
01-06-1930 – Louis Emery Kirts of 560 Davids St. – Appointed
Patrolman on the Marion City Police Deparytment,
filling the vacancy left by the death of J. H. McIntire
· Age – 36, Born in Marion County
· Mother: Leona A. Williams-Kirts
· Father: John M. Kirts
· Sister: Nellie Zeola Kirts-Greer (1898-1948)
· Sister: Miss May Kirts of Gallipolis, Ohio
· Brother: Benjamin E. Kirts of Elkhart, Indiana
· Brother: Carey O. Kirts Marion, Ohio
· Wife: Minnie E. Tinker-Crawford-Kirts
· Daughter: Juanita L. Kirts-Turner
· Stepson: Lee Crawford
· 1927 Directory shows Louis as a “Painter” living at 165
Glad.
· Worked for Huber Manufacturing Co. prior to coming
to Police Department.
· Marion Star Article – 12-31-1932 – Page #1
SHOT ROUTS
TRIO AT STORE
Patrolman Fires at Fleeing
Men Surprised While Cutting Glass in Door.
Three suspects are being held in city prison after an
attempted burglary of the G. A. Greer clothing store at
488 West Center Street, was frustrated early this
morning by Patrolman Louis E. Kirts, who fired at a trio
fleeing from the store doorway.
One of the trio being held was arrested in the Princess
Theater, a short distance away, about 10 minutes after
the attempted burglary at 3:15 a. m., while the other two
were arrested about an hour later in a Hocking street
poolroom. They were being held at noon on investigation
charges, pending questioning.
The men escaped after being fired at, none being hit.
Kirts called police headquarters for assistance and the
arrests were made after searching the vicinity.
Two lines had been cut on the front door glass of the
store, apparently in an attempt to reach inside to unlock
the door. The glass, however, had not been cut through.
No glass cutters or other weapons were found on the
men, police reported.
H. McElroy of Edwards Street, manager of the store,
said an overcoat was stolen from the store about two
months ago. Glass was cut from a front show window at
that time.
Police were uncertain about filing charges against the
men, due to difficulty in obtaining witnesses.
Questioning was started this morning, with no
developments reported by early afternoon.
· Hired in at $137.50 every two weeks. Worked six days on
one day off at least through 1933.
· Address as shown in 1931 Directory was 148 Glad St.
· Address in the 1934 Directory was shown as 560 Davids
St.
· 08-23-1934 – Marion Star
PEN CONVICT TRAPPED BY CITY OFFICER
Patrolman Louis E. Kirts
Nabs Paroled Man in Attempted Theft
CAUGHT IN K. & M. GARAGE
Prisoner, Free Only Few Months,
Confesses Entering Place To Steal Car
A paroled convict was captured by a Marion patrolman
early this morning In the K. & M. Auto Sales garage at
227 North Main Street where, police said, the man was
preparing to steal an automobile.
The capture was made shortly after midnight by
Patrolman Louis E. Kirts who climbed through a rear
window into the garage when he became suspicious at
finding the window had been forced open.
The man, booked as Thomas Adams 29, alias Thomas
Martin, was lying on the floor behind an automobile,
police said, where he apparently had attempted to hide
when he heard Kirts enter the garage.
Adams made no attempt to resist arrest, police said. He
was booked as having no permanent home, having been
released from the Michigan state prison on May 18. A
complete confession was obtained after Adams was
questioned at length this morning, Acting Police. Chief
E. C. Mackan said.
A steel cash box, containing about $1 in change, and a .
44 caliber revolver, both the property of the garage,
were found In Adams possession by Kirts, according to
police. The gun was not loaded.
Police said Adams has confessed he pried open a rear
window of the garage and had taken license plates from
a used car in the garage and put them on a new
Plymouth coach.
He was about to drive the car away, police said, when
caught by Kirts.
The cash drawer had been pried open and the cash taken
from it, according to Fred Keenan, who, with Harold
Murphy, operates the garage.
A charge was to be filed against Adams this afternoon,
possibly one of breaking and entering the garage,
Mackan said. It also is possible he will be returned to the
Michigan state prison at Jackson, Mich., as a parole
violator.
Adams told police, they said, that he has served time in
the Ohio penitentiary for auto theft, and recently was
released under parole from the Michigan state prison.
He had been returned there nearly two years ago as a
parole violator.
He has been in or near Marion for about three weeks,
police said, and has been staying at a local hotel, where
he was registered as Thomas Martin.
Adams is a native of Pennsylvania, police said, and has
lived part of his life in Mansfield.
He said he had no accomplice in his auto theft attempt.
· 08-1934 – Marion Star – Editorial
Good Work, Officer
A timely and courageous bit of police work was
performed by Patrolman Louis E. Kirts early Thursday
morning.
Discovering one of the windows of an uptown garage
open he crawled in to investigate, found a man in hiding,
and it developed the intruder, a paroled penitentiary
prisoner, had planned stealing an automobile.
Fortunately he submitted to arrest without any show of
fight, so that Kirts got his man without injury to himself
and with a real mark of merit chalked up to his credit.
This incident might be regarded as an extraordinary
practical exemplification of the old saying about an
ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.
Needless to say, it took considerably more than an ounce
of nerve for Patrolman Kirts lone-handed to enter a
closed business place in the dead of night with every
prospect of encountering trouble. But he prevented a
robbery and thus provided the most valuable type of
police service. The job of hunting for robbers and the
property they have stolen is little more than ordinary
routine for police departments and by no means is
always successful. Most certainly it is not a cure.
The benefits of prevention are vastly greater. So if
commission of crime can be headed off, the policeman or
the police department performing such service is entitled
to exceptional credit and recognition. In some instances
it requires quick thinking and prompt action, such as
Patrolman Kirts demonstrated in effective fashion. That
is emergency crime prevention. Opportunities for service
of this type are not confined to emergencies, however.
They exist constantly in every community, where police
officers through unceasing vigilance and alertness can do
the most good by eliminating conditions, which incubate
and foster lawlessness and crime. That, beyond doubt, is
one of the most vitally important functions of those
employed to protect lives and property.
· 01-29-1935 – Started to work 1:00 p. m. to 1:00 a. m. in
plain clothes.
· 03-12-1936 – Dismissed from service due to shortage of
funds in city.
· 03-19-1936 – Appealed to City Civil Service Commission
his dismissal from duty as Chief William Marks held less
seniority than he. Decision was made to keep Chief and
lay off four youngest patrolmen.
· 04-01-1936 Ernest C. Mackan took a 30-day leave of
absence – no notation as to why. During this time Desk
Sgt. L. E. Reardon appointed Acting Captain &
Patrolman Kirts recalled from lay-off and assigned to
desk duties.
· 06-30-1936 – Obtained employment at Steel Mills and
started his furlough as created by act of city council.
· 09-16-1941 – Appointed as Captain, lived at 680 Herman
St. at this time. Four other patrolmen took the test for
this position. The appointment of a third Captain to the
Police Force became necessary under the new state law
recently passed by the legislature placing all Ohio
policemen on an eight-hour day schedule. There were
formerly only two Captains.
· 08-25-1950 – Marion Star
Kirts files for retirement
Veteran Police Captain Leaving Marion Force
Captain Louis E. Kirts has applied for retirement from
the Marion police force after 20 years and eight months
of active service. He is 57 years old.
The police pension board will act on the application
tonight at a meeting at city hall and the retirement will
become effective Sept. 6.
Capt. "Lou" Kirts is at present on vacation. He and his
wife are taking a trip through Tennessee and other
southern states.
He joined the force on Jan. 6, 1930, and was appointed
captain on Nov. 6, 1941. He says he has made no definite
plans for the future.
His successor will be appointed from an eligibility list by
Mayor Harold F. Robinson and Safety-Service Director
Ralph Forest.
Patrolman Jack S. Underhill is at present acting captain
until the appointment is made.
· 08-26-1950 – Marion Star
Police Board OK's Kirts’ Retirement
The Police Pension Board met at city hail last night and
approved the retirement of Capt. Louis E. Kirts. His
retirement will be effective Sept. 6. The board also
approved the August payroll of $1,827.71 for payment.