Wave Of Petty Crimes In Norwood On Weekend-This Day In Norwood History-September 1, 1939

Robert Hunt, who lives at 386 Winter Street adjoining Highland Cemetery, viewing two of the some twenty tombstones desecrated by vandals early last Sunday morning. A Norwood youth is being held under Sl.OOO bail for the act of vandalism, while police are seeking accomplices, believing that more than one person was involved in upturning the stones, many of which weighed in access of 600 pounds.

Norwood was beset by a wave of petty crimes and vandalism last week-end which has resulted in the arrest of two youths, with several other arrests expected this week-end. Early last Friday morning an attempt was made to rob the palatial home of W. Cameron Forbes. Michael Connolly, the caretaker of the mansion, narrowly escaped death when the bandit fired a blast from a double-barrelled shotgun. Police are still investigating the break.

One of the most atrocious acts of vandalism ever to be committed in this town occurred early last Sunday morning at the Highland Cemetery when 20 grave stones were ripped from their bases, with a numbei- of crosses knocked off and smashed. Finger’print experts from Boston rushed to the cemetery to take prints from the overturned and smashed stones. A Norwood youth is being held under $1000 bail for the crime. Arraigned in Dedham District Court, Tuesday morning, he pleaded not guilty. His case is being continued to September 8, while police are seeking to trace other fingerprints, believing he had accomplices.

Fake Alarmer Nabbed

A Norwood youth was sentenced to three months in jail by Judge Dwight Fullerton last Monday morning for ringing in a false alarm from box 193 between Vernon and Prospect streets about 1.18 Monday morning.

Sergeant Pat Coyne arrested the youth, who admitted pulling the alarm. He cleared four companions who were with him. The false alarm brought the total of falsies to 27 for the year.

Breaks were reported Friday night from the Bay State Foundry and the Albert Fales Grain Mill, while police arrested Ernest Young of Pawtucket, Rhode Island last Friday afternoon on suspicion of two breaks on Prospect Street. Young denied any connection with the attempted robbery at the Forbes estate or the breaks at the Fales Mill and the Bay State Foundry.

Young, who is 24 years old, has a long criminal record in Rhode Island He was arraigned in Dedham District Court Saturday morning on charges of larceny and will face Grand Jury action Monday morning. Meanwhile, he is being held at Dedham jail under $3000 bail.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)