For some time the motormen on the street trolley have been annoyed by young boys jumping on and off, the cars while they were in motion. This was a direct violation of the law and caused the trolley people no little alarm, as a serious accident might result, for which the street car men might be blamed.
The motormen were ordered to prevent this practice if possible. Early one morning a motormen broke the ice, so to speak, and while his car was over in East Defiance a young lad jumped the trolley. Motorman stopped his trolley and went after the boy with blood in his eye. The boy took to his heels and had no doubt of his ability to keep out of harm. Motorman was formerly something of amateur sprinter himself and has a store box chuck full of medals at home, so he took an extra loop in his belt and went after that kid in a manner that would cause a member of the Defiance hose company to turn green with envy.
After a chase of a half mile he returned with a firm grip on the boy's collar. The youngster was sobbing bitterly and promised if he were released he would turn over a new leaf and never jump another trolley, until he got big enough to out run the conductor. Months of experience with trolley jumping kids has caused, the conductor to contract a hardness of the heart and he was deaf to the boy's cry and gave him a free trolley ride to the Mayor's office.
The boy was turned over to the police officer, who afterward let him go on being convinced he was punished sufficiently.
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