The Sequel to the Greased Rail Episode on July 3.
The sequel to the greased rail episode on the night before the Fourth was furnished in the Norfolk superior court at Dedham before Judge Fessenden on Thursday last and the jury, after being out only twelve minutes, found six of the boys arraigned, guilty and two not guilty. These two were Jolm W. McDonald and Albert J. H. Meyers. McDonald claimed that while he was with the boys he took no part whatever in greasing the tracks. Meyer, it is claimed, left the party before the tracks were greased. The boys found guilty on one count of the indictment are William K. Fulton, Paul Stuntzer, Charles H. McDonald, Richard J. O’Leary, Daniel J. Brennan and Fred C. Buttrick. The testimony for the prosecution developed about the state of facts as has already been recorded in the Advertiser. William H. Walsh, a division foreman, testified to finding two cars which had come into collision at Norwood, and produced some greasy waste with which the tracks had been greased
Patrick A. Savage, a conductor, told of the collision and stated that he had found grease on the tracks. Edward Flanagan, motorman, who was injured in the collision, testified that he could not stop his car from running into Motorman Johnson’s car. He had been laid up for some time after the accident. There were nine passengers on his car. Fred C. Buttrick, who had turned state’s evidence in the case, confirmed the statements of the confession. A Norwood physician who had attended Passenger Burke testified as to the injuries Mr. Burke had received.
The only witness for the defense was Paul A. Stuntzner, one of the defendants, who testified that he was sixteen years of age and said that the boys had only intended having some fun and had not anticipated that anyone would be hurt. Jolm W. McDonald, whom the jury found not guilty, is twenty-one years old. Elisha Greenhood of Dedham and Thomas E. Grover appeared as counsel for the boys. The convicted boys have not been sentenced at the present writing.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)