Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 13, 1931.
JUDGE HARRY CRUMPACKER IS A VICTIM OF THE AUTO PLATE LAW
Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Superior Court, was late starting his court Thursday morning, but the reason for it did not become known until today.
It seems that his eminent judgeship had failed to get a 1931 automobile license, and when he was leisurely driving down Franklin street, Michigan City, on his way to this city, Patrolman Roy Thomas came along and spied the old license plates on the judge’s car.
The policeman did not recognize his “victim” and hustled the judge post haste to the station, following a rule of the department that all cars without proper license plates should be impounded at headquarters until the law had been complied with.
At the station, the judge walked into the inner office to talk with Chief Wesley R. Kirby, and the patrolman asked Desk Sergeant Richard Fritz: “Who is that guy?”
“Why don't you know who that is,” replied the amused officer. “That’s Judge Crumpacker.”
The judge explained that he had been getting up every morning before the license bureau was open and returning from Valparaiso too late.
Because of Lincoln’s birthday, the license branch was closed, so Chief Kirby overcame the difficulty by borrowing a set of plates from a local auto dealer, so that Judge Crumpacker could proceed on his trip.
