The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-02
Give Details Of Most Re
narkable Crime Lives
of 800 Endangered
WATCHED WRECK
FROM VANTAGE POINT
Hid Under Bridge as Crack
Train Left Rails Sent
to Reform School

HJuat TO see a real wreck" two
boys, 12 and IS years Of age, living
at casselton, threw open the east
switch on the west passing track,
one-haEf mile east of CasseIton Tues
day evening, and watched the engine
and the first four coaches Of North
Coast Limited No. 1, crack trans
continental train Of che Northern Pa
cifie, travelling 80 to IS miles an hour,
leave the rails.
Pesping from around the piers of
u wagon bridge, abort distance west
from the switchss, the boys witness
ed The spectacle and, joyed at the
enornrity of such gigantic, realistic
production, hurried to their homes
while 800 persone aboard the train
spared from injury or death left the
coaches 90 determine the cause of
che derailnent. The boys later re-
turned to sec aIlew much damage was
done"
The boys were arrested Wednesday
astsrncon &C caasvlton ard were
brought to Fargo early that evening
ard lodged IL tEe cass county iaii.
where they spent che night. They
confessed the affair 10 Special Agent
Mcdowell Of the railroad when arr
rested.
In the Juvenile courtroom Of the
Cass county disctrict court, this
morning, the two boys, one red
headed fellow, and the other with
black hair. clipped close. bowed their.
heads when william C. Green. assist
ant states attorney OF cass county.
read the formal Indictment, sworn to
by George c. McDoweil. special agent
for the Northern Pacific, through
whose efforts the arrest Of the boys
was made. The criminal warrant
charged the boys with breaking and
removing the lock of the switch for
the purpose OF 'displacing a. part Of
a steam railway" In the rear Of the
courtroom were the boys. parents
a Dramatic Touch.
A dramatic touch was given when
special Agent Mcdowell stopped
abruptly the details of the story when.
it came to that portion regarding
the confession the boys had made to
him.
let the boys tell the rest of the
story from here on. said the special
agent to the assistant states attor-
ney Il prefer that they tell It them
selves. just as they told me-
Then they have confessed, I, said
Judge Al. T. Cole of the district court,
and addressing the boys asked ic they.
had a statement which they wished
to make. The parents said the boys
ladmitted their guilt. and the fathers
asked the court not to delay in pass
Ing sentence.
A Lucky WreclS.
Before sentence, for the period OF
minority, was passed by Judge Al. r.
Cole for the commitment of the boys
to the state reform school, Assistant
States Attorney william G. Green
declared that 1t was by the greatest
fortune that 100 lives were not lost
when the train crashed into the open
switch. * believe this is the most
serious crime that has come to the
attention Of the juvenile court since
this branch DC the district court was
opened, : said the attorney.
In passing sentence, Judge Cole as
serted that the boys. under q period
OF good behavior, have d chance to
earn their way out Of the reform
school before na1oa,ity. in which case
he ordered that the state board Of
control Immediately issue an order
to the parents and the juvenile court
TO cooperate in their care
Mcdowell Tells Story.
no the Investigation conduct
ed by Agent Mcdowell. who re-
raained on the ground until the niys-
terry ia connection with the two tam
pered switches had been cleared, Is
f7ue the credit for the evidence gath
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