Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-07-14
FIENDISH BOYS.
They Deliberately Drown Their. Young
Playmate.

hunted Tor ner tWelVe-year-Old son
Tommy from Thursday of last week,
when the boy disappeared, until Sattr-
day night. Then her labors ended with
the knowledge that her boy had been
drowned by playmates in the East
river at the foot of Beekman street.
One of her boys companions told Of
his death and a younger son corroberat-
ed the sad news, and three boys were
arraigned before Justice Meade in the
Tombs Police court charged with caus-
ing '"Tommy's'' death. They were re-
manded to the care Of the society for
prevention of cruelty to children pend
ing an investigation.
To - Moloney and his nine-year-
old brother, together with Patsy
Radican, twelve years old, of No. 142
Cherry street, and Frank Lago, thirteen
years old, of No. p Batavia street, went
down ITO the Beekman street dock on
Thursday to have a bath untrammelled
by the regulations surrounding the pub
lie bath houses
Tommy could not swim, but he
took off his clothes, as did all the others
my pulled an empty fish crate to the
edge of the dock and sat down. He
then counted his money-twenty-fi five
cents-which he had earned by selling
papers. AS he replaced the money in
his pockets he gave a satisfied little
chuckle.
1t was while in this happy frame of
mind that his young life was snuffed
out.
According to the alleged confession
of young Lago himself and the state
ment of little Johnny Moloney, the
former then approached Tommy
noiselessly and by quick shove threw
him and the crate into the river.
Tommy" could not swim, and the
other boys knew it, but still they
thought it great sport to see the help
less lad founder in the deep water.
AS cats play with mice before killing
them, so did these youngsters torture
the drowning boy.
There were other DOrS SWIMMING,
about whose names are not known,
and they splashed water upon the gasp
ing, struggling lad. These douches cut
short his breath, and rendered him I'M
able to cry out, and to add to the effect
and make the scene more amusing for
from the dock upon the poor child fight
ing for lis life.
That was the last seen of Tommy
Moloney. He did not come up again.
A reporter saw the heartbroken
mother moaning by the crib of her
one-year-old baby boy when he called
while her hard working husband was
sitting his own sorrow to comfort her.
Several neighbors were also trying to
ease her fearless grief, but in vain.
1.-THE boy Lago owned up to me he
pushed Tommy off the dock" said the
father. He told me, too, he jumped
on the little lad when he was .fightin'
fer his wind n he never came up
again.
IT went to Lagos house Sunday and
he acknowledged everything to his
father. What I don't understand is
why my own son Jacky didn't come
right home and tell me Tommy was
drowned and the father brushed his
eyes with the back of his big red hand.
Johnny said he was afraid of the
other boys and when Tommy had dis
appeared young Radican took the twen-
ty-ive cents from my poor lads pants
n then they all run Off"
My boy Johnny, too, told me Mike
Mclaughlin, a sixteen-year-old young
fellow, who was in swimming. diyed
down and tried to bring Tommy up,
but he could not find him. The little
fellow was gone" and the fathers
voice quavered.
David Griffen, of Brooklyn, a friend
of the Moloney family, who was visit
ing them, said positively young Lago
had confessed to him materially what
is in the foregoing story. and also that
several other boys had corroborated
the facts of the drowning.
The police were informed of the part
taken in Tommy" Moloney's death |
by the boys, and Johnny Moloney,
Frank Lago and Patsy Radican were
arrested
The enormity of their offence does |
not seem to strike the boys, although
Lago has cried a good deal since his
arrest, while his father is nearly crazed |
at his sons part in young Moloney's |
death
The body of the drowned Lad has
not been discovered vet