Evening journal., 1899-07-06
HELD FOR UPPER COURT
William Wright Alleged to
Have Purchased Stolen Brass.
THE CASE is A SERIOUS ONE


THE BOYS FROM WHOM HE
BOUGHT IT STOLE II OUT OF
AIR BRAKE CYLINDERS ON d. &.
o. AND w. & n. CARS.
William Wright, junk dealer on
Lobdell street, was held in $500 bail for
upper court by Judge Ball this morn
ing on a charge Of receiving stolen
goods, knowing them TO have been
stolen.
The facts that led up to Wright be-
ing held were interesting, and develop
ed theft by a crowd Of small boys
that might have resulted in a serious
destruction Of property, II not a loss OF
life.
Fred. Stewart, Andrew DuRoss, Her
bert Faulkner, John McGirk, Frederick
Bierman, Thomas Connolly and John
Doring, seven boys, ranging from 10 to
IA years OF age. were arraigned on a
charge OF stealing brass from the b. &
o. and w. & N. railroads at various
times during the last month. The brass
in question was valves that the bows
mad stolen from the air brake cylin-
ders benath freight cars. The lads had
unscrewed the caps OF the cylinders
and had taken out the valves. replac-
ing the caps again.
This operation rendered the bral,e
useless. and in case any OF the cars
OF which the valves had been stolen
were attached to train. the result
would be that the entire air brake svs-
tenn of the whole train would refuse to
work thereby rendering the train
liable to a wreck.
Inc boys had stolen twenty-seven of
the valves. which are valued AT 81
apiece and had taken them to Wright
and sold them for s14O, he promising
to pay them after the Fourth of .ulv
The lads alleged that they told Wright
where they got the brass, and he told
them to keep quiet or they would get
in trouble.
Owing to the gravity Of the orense
committed by the boys and the possible
results, Assistant City Solicitor Cahoon
asked that heavy bail bond be placed
on Wright to insure his presence in
court. The boys were held in 500 bail
also for upper court.
John Connor. Joseph Robinson and
Frank Kelley were charged with act
ing disorderly on Logan street on the
Fourth Of July. From the testimony
OF twelve witnesses it was made appar-
ent that Connor and Robinson had been
looking for trouble all day, and finally
became involved in a difficulty with
several Poles. Twenty dollars and costs
was the fine imposed upon Connor and
Robinson. Kelley was dismissed.
Martin Robinson was charged with
acting disorderly on July 4, having
thrown a brick at some colored people
with whom he got into a dispute Ten
dollars and costs was the sentence.
Francis T. Dollard, James Ryan and
Dennis Begley were charged with act
ing disorderly at Second and Monroe
streets early on the morning Of July
T. It was alleged that a general fight
occurred, in which cries Of murder were
frequent It was a mysterious melee,
inasmuch as none of the eight or ten
witnesses examined knew who were the
participants. Judge Ball, however,
concluded that he had the right men
in the right place" and assessed them
s. and costs apiece.
Thomas Welsh was arraigned on a
charge Of disorderly conduct on the
evening of June 25. Welsh was alleged
to be a member Of the gang which at
tackled a party of young men on the
night mentioned at Front and Tatnall
streets. John Price was the principal
but his memory seemed to
have failed him, and he could not
Identify Welsh as one Of the party, al
though both Officer Shields and Gum
testified that he was a member of the
gang. a part OF whom were fined a short
time ago for a similar offense Price
that he had had talk with
the prisoners brother relative to the
ease last night AS there was no testi-
mony to indicate that Welsh had Gre
ated any disorder he was dismissed
Robert G. Harman represented Welsh
and got considerably "balled up" be-
fore he finished the case. An attach
ment was issued for Reuben Aiken,
witness who was summoned and failed
to appear.
The following cases were also dis
posed os: Alfred Maxwell, Edgar
Thompson, disorderly conduct at John
Lemons place. Fourth and Scott
streets, $40 and costs each; William Lu-
ISens, dlsorderly conduct, 81 and costs;
Legrova, disorderly conduct,
IS and costs; James Matthews, drunk,
81 and costs; Peter Marks, drunk, 81