This April 14, 1921, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 1, column 6:
Killed at Cedar Lake
The fast train due here at 1:27 p.m. struck an automobile at the crossing at the north end of Cedar Lake Monday. The machine one of several being driven by a band of gypsies going to Chicago, was completely demolished and two children were instantly killed. Several others in the car were badly hurt. The gypsies placed the dead children in another car and went on their way, not waiting for a coroner's inquest. This is against the law and the sheriff immediately went in pursuit of them, but failed to find them. The gypsies were in Lowell a short time before the accident occurred.
The following Lowell Tribune article, from April 21, 1921, appeared on page 5, column 3:
Last Friday a band of gypsies struck town and as usual they started in to visit the business houses to see what they could steal. The only place they were successful was at the Wilbur Lumber Company office, where they got $75 in money. As soon as it was missed, A.J. Moxell notified Marshal Duckworth and he and Mr. Moxwell went in pursuit of the gypsies. When they located them they said they did not take the money, but were willing to leave $75 and when the money was found they could send them back their money.
This story from an unknown source was found in the Clippings File at Lowell Public Library--LH--"Crime and Criminals"
Gypsies are coming into this vicinity asking for food or money and then stealing money and other articles from them. One case at Orchard Grove, and another near Hebron, where they held up a man near the Ed Hough, Jr. place and took money from him. They called the marshal from Hebron, but they were gone before he arrived. One other place they got into a house and were searching thru bureau drawers when the people found them. Be on your guard when you see any of these pests and keep them moving down the road!
The following September 15, 1938, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 4, column 3:
THIEVING GYPSIES
It hasn't been much more than a quarter of a century ago when roving bands of old world Latins spent their time roving over this country, telling fortunes by the palm of the hand. They traveled in small bands of from six to fifty and in wagons so much along the same type of the auto trailers of today that many of the old patterns are being copied. Their trade was that of swapping and buying and selling horses, though often after they had passed on, a tell-tale pile of chicken feathers, roasting ear hulls, or the polished bones of young porkers showed they had made the neighboring farms the victim of their main art -- thievery.
Changing methods of transportation from the gypsy wagon to the auto did not stop their wanderings. They merely dug deeper into their purses when the money was necessary and bought the best makes of autos and continued their explorations and depredations. It's hard to believe their stories so bold has become their thievery in every section they visit. The men apply themselves to [the] auto trade and parts racket while the women, and many residents of this section can attest to that, march on the town and its stores, though farm houses are the easiest victims, with the women working out of doors so much the time of year. It is a different story than the gypsies who were gypsies and not always thieves like they are today.