Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-31
IN SNOW
LEAD TO ARREST Of
A TRAIN WRECKER.
DEPUTY ShERlFFS NAB FElON
WHO PLACED BARaiCADe ON
N. Y. CENTRAL TRACKS JUST
FOR FUN"-is NOW IN COUNTY
JAIL.

The heavy mark OF new artics in
the SNOW along The c. l. x s. tNew
Z York CenlraD tracks al Kangley led
10 the arrest last night OF Pat Far
rell, aged 30 years. confessed train
Wreeker, by Deputies Fritz Gocbel ana
William Mischke
: The deputies traced Farrell to his
home west of The village by the i'm
Prints OF newly purchased felt boots
After his arrest and careful quiz.
Ling he admitted having placed as a
prank -four ties across The rails OF
the t., |. 4 5. at midnight Tuesday.
tie is now a prisoner at the county
Jail
At first Farrell denied any part in
the plot 10 wreck train but when he
was taken into Streator and started
for Ottawa lie admitted that on Tues.
day night while he was under the in
i,uence Of liquor, he pulled -four big
ties ana placed them between the
rails.
Fortunately the barricade was dis
covered in The early morning before
any trains came that way. He said
he did he thing Just for fun" and
didn't know what prompted him to
give vent to his malciotsness in this
manner.
The sheriff.. oiIice was called tpon.
to take charge OF the case after Inc
Ties were removed to prevent their
MENACE 10 trains travelling both WAYS
over the line Deputies Mischkc and
Goebel were dispatched TO trace down
the wrecker
When they arrived at Kanelcy they
were tipped or that Farrell was in
town until ll.l5 Tuesday night en-
poying his cups. They also leaned
that Farrell to reach his home ira
Versed the railway right OF way.
Getting into the country they were
able because OF the unmarried mark.
ines ot the rubber soled artics to
trace him To the pile of ties and from
there TO his abode When suspicion
finally settled upon him he was taken
to The scene of the attempted wreck.
ine and made 10 make more footprints
all OF which were identical
The story OF the plot as il occurred
is best told in the Free Press. which
says
Tho discovery was made this nom. /
Ing at about 4:3l O'Clock, by George
Craft. engineer OF the Spring Lake lee
Company, as he WaS on his way TO
work Mr.. Craft. in going to his work
walks on the railroad tracks.
When in the vicinity east Of the
elevator station, Altman which Is lour
miles west OF SteatOI Mn Graft. no.
tieed three ties on the track. one
Of the tinbers was placed crosswise
ol The rails, and the other two were
lying parallel with the rails. Far
ther west OF the ties, about fifty feet
from the elevator an empty barrel
was standing on HE track. and an
empty ice plug was also found on the
track.
Mr. Craft, realizing the danger Of
the situation. reported the same TO
the officials of the New York Central
lines and Mr.. Mcnamara, the local
agent, at once began an Investigation
OF the strange case
# train had attempted to pass The
ties would have easily caused wreck
as the Two which were lengthwse
would have been caught by the engine
and would have been forced into the
earth between the ties, derailing toc
engine
The first morning train on the New
York Central is the passenger to Gear
ine. which leaves this city at 7;55
O'Clock. hut tho ties would have been
discovered by thc section gang which !
leaves Che city TO 80 over the tracks }
at about 5:31 in the morning
However, special freight would
have been wrecked had one come
along before the discovery VAS made.
According 10 the usual custom q.
large number OF ties are corded along /
the right Of way OF the railroad and
there were several piles of the heavy
timbers used 80 hold the rails in
place. stored along the track near the |
Altman station Tor uSc when needed. |
The ties We're neatly piled and 1t is /
very Evident that the guilty parry
haHled the same IN his wagon to tht
place along The track whore they were
found.
The finding OF The barrel on the
track also arouses greater suspicion,