Elmer Ellsworth & Lewis Sheriff Winterburn: Jail Sentence for Larceny of Tires

Lewis Sheriff Winterburn was born 12 Sep 1891 in Elizabeth, PA. His brother Elmer Ellsworth was born 31 Dec 1893 in Elizabeth, PA. To Edwin James Winterburn (1868-1961) and Annie Ruth Lewis (1869-1961).



Inmate #2974 Pittsburg Jail
Crime: Larceny of Auto tires
Rec: 21 Jan 1919


Inmate #2975 Pittsburg Jail
Crime: Larceny of Auto tires
Rec: 21 Jan 1919

Tire theft was a huge business back then and it's easy to sell a tire than a whole car. And the crime is less time in the slammer.



There were ultimately charged with a misdemeanor. 


Lewis married Irene Elizabeth Nolder (1897-1953)
They had the following children:
Lewis Luther Winterburn 1918-1946
Elizabeth Jane Winterburn 1919-2004
James Richard Winterburn 1926-1956
Marjorie Ann Winterburn 1932-2001

He became a MacHinist

A machinist is a person who machines using hand tools and machine tools to create or modify a part that is made of metal, plastics, or wood.

Elmer married 2 Apr 1961 to Evelyn Virgina Stevenston (1902-1989) this was her 2nd marriage and they didn't have any children.

He became a pharmacist.



Lewis Son Jame Richard Winterburn had a few issues with his wife Adrienne Amelia McAllen (1928-1956). They married 11 Apr 1945 in California.







I started this story with one photo, the mugshot of Lewis Sheriff Winterburn and it lead me to a newspaper clipping which mentioned his brother Elmer and that lead me to Lewis son.

Lewis got his first name from his mother's last name, his middle name was from his paternal grandmother's maiden name Agnes Lavinia Sheriff.

The Winterburn brothers father was a laborer at a Fur Factory when they were small and later he became a Contractor.

Even tough this story ended on a tragic note for 3 little girls who lost their parents and may have grown up not knowing what the truth was, I am most confident they found the truth as adults.

I understand why families have secrets, but something they do not think about is the day the skeleton comes out of that closet. Then what? The truth always sets you free. 




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