He Liked to See Horses Run, Boy Tells the Judge

La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1917

Ragged Youth Pleads Guilty and Is Let Off with a Small Fine for False Alarms

It was an irresistible yearn for excitement and the sight of galloping horses which led Frank Edward Love, 17, 327 North Tenth street, to "pull" fire alarm boxes and then hide a few rods away while the fire department dashed to the box, Love told Judge Clinton W. Hunt in police court Tuesday morning.

The boy wore ragged, misfitting clothes and his hair had not been cut for months. He pleaded guilty and was fined $5 and costs. Chief of the Fire Department Fred C. McGlachlin asked the court to be lenient.

Love was arraigned with Harold Johnson, 21, and Gilbert Norton, 17, who declared they were not guilty. Norton, who is part Indian, on parole from the state reform school at Waukesha, denied having confessed to Chief of Police John B. Webber. Johnson had nothing to say. He appeared much older than Norton and Love. Norton and Johnson will be tried Monday afternoon.

E. T. Eaton, parole officer of the Waukesha school, may take Norton before Judge Brindley and if he is found guilty he may return with Eaton.

The fire department is mystified over an alarm sent in over the telephone at 8 o'clock Monday evening. When the automobile truck from Hose company No. 4 reached the 1400 block on George street, where the message said there was a chimney fire, no blaze was discovered.

Lewiston Denies Charge

Leonard Lewiston, arraigned in county court late Monday afternoon on a charge of arson, entered a plea of not guilty and Judge Brindley set his examination for Wednesday morning. Bail of $1,000 was requested. Lewiston is a north side man and is alleged to have set fire to the Powell barn.

—The La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, La Crosse, Wisconsin, January 23, 1917, page 4.