The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-11-26
FOR FUN.
How Reading Dime Novels At
feoted Young Jones.
A Twelve.Year-Old Massachusetts Lad
Places Rocks and Rails Upon Rail-
Road Track, in the Hope OF Emu
lating Jesse James.
tFitchburs Cor. Boston Globe.l

[Fitchburg Cor Boston Globe.l
Norman Y. Jones, of Shirley, the twelve.
year-old boy who made two attempt to
wreck passenger trains on the Fitchburg
Road yesterday, is now in Jail here. After
the distractions on the track had been dis.
covered Station Agent Anderson, Of Fitch
burg, and Special Detective McElheny, went
to Diamond Rock, learned that boy had
been seen lingering in that vicinity, and
proceeded to search the adjoining woods,
Mr.. Anderson drove about mile from the
place where the distractions were found
and encountered small boy with hatchet
and knife in his belt and a general "I'm-a-
bad-man" makeup. Mr.. Anderson cap
tured the "bad man" without bloodshed
and charged him with trying to wreck the
trains. The youngster stoutly denied that
he had anything to do with the deviltry
until he was taken to Diamond Rock by
the agent and the detective, and fitted to
some footprints where the track was OBJ
strueted, when he admitted that he had
placed the rocks and rails on the track
"for fun"
The young Jesse James proved to be Nor
man z. Jones, son of Zephas Jones, of Shir-
ley, and his parents were at once notified
of his arrest, but they did not appear yes
terday when he was arraigned in court and
held for trial November 3. Young Jones
was taken to the Jail, and in reply to the
questions of the officers he told yarn
about strange man forcing him to put the
rocks on the track and holding his wrists
while he was doing the mischief. Tonight
q reporter called at the jail, and the young
wrecker was brought into the guard-room
and questioned about his exploit. He re-
peated the story of the strange man, but
with so many variations and improbable
ties that its falsity was perfectly apparent.
The man sent him up the track, he said, and
remained within hailing distance while he
was placing the distractions. He did not
know the man, but he knew that the same
man had tried to induce other boys, whom
he did not know, to do the same thing a
long time ago. Later, he declared that il
was another man, whom he designated as
"Redhead," who had approached the other
and unknown boys. When asked II he had
been reading dime novels, he said he read
them when he could get them, and he ex-
pressed some admiration for Jesse James
"What did you put the rocks on the track
fori" he was asked.
"To stop the trains, replied young Jones
with cool indifference.
"Didn't you know that you might throw
the trains off and kill somebody's"
"Wasn't enough rocks to do that. Be-
sides, they could see 'em in time"
"But they might not have seen them"
"An engineer amt no good II he can't
see things on the track. just wanted K
stop 'em." ~ .-t .s &
"Then there wasn't any man with youg'
"Was, too.r I"...
And so the youngster went on, sullenl!
sticking TO his preposterous story OF tn
mystical man, and showing no signs o
contrition. He could not tell what he in
tended to do in case of a wreck, but he wa
quite sure that no detective could hav'
caught the redoubta bic Jesse under simi
lar circumstances, because Jesse woult
have fought, and he regretted that he ha,
nothing but hatchet with which to de
fend himself. "a hatchet amt good TO
nothing" he said. "I'd rather have
knife" When asked what he would do will
knife, a cunning look came into his face
and he answered.:
"I'd whittle with It,"
From the cautious replies given by tn
youngster TO numerous questions, 1t ap
pears that he has run away from hom
several times, armed with such weapon
as he could get hold Of, and camped in tn
woods alone. He made no complaint
about his treatment at home and gave n
reason for his escapades. The trouble wit
him is that his head is full Of the PERM
cious stuff which is printed In fash paper
and cheap novels, and he is imbued wit
ambition 10 emulate the deeds Of Dol
burglars, train robbers and the miscellane
Gus miscreants who are'held up as heroC
before Young America. He is wei
grown boy for his age and hardy youn
| liar. His face indicates intelligence enoug
and more than cunning enough, and he az
pears to rather enjoy being regarded as
hard case. When locked up In the Jail j
told another prisoner that he could get OF
II he had knife, and proceeded TO eN
plnin how the job could be done. He ful
ther declared that II they should send hi
to the Reform School they could not kee
him there week. The prospects are thI
the youthful train-wrecker will be give
an opportunity to test the security of Il
Reform School.