May 24, 1921
Donald Wooley, 8 years old, arrested by local police Friday night, is a confessed member of the gang of juvenile outlaws who have kept the police blotter black with complaints for the past several days. Don was found sleeping in a barn back of his fatherâs home and now is musing over his acts at the detention home on Cottage Street while the police are seeking Lyle McClain, 10, and Roy McClain, about 12 years old, the other adventurers. Don will face a larceny charge in court Monday and probably will be sent to an institution as the parents of the three boys say they can do nothing with them. Guy Wooley is the father of the captive, whose mother is dead. Mr. and Mrs. George McClain, also of West Division, are the parents of the other lads. Nearly half a hundred separate offenses have been committed recently by the lads, all the way from skipping school and stealing to the more serious charges of breaking and entering buildings and forcing seals on freight cars. Yesterday the lads stole a launch. They threw the canvas in the lake, cut the tiller rope and put paint in the engine. The same gang also stole a rowboat. They broke open another boat house Sunday and stole a pair of oars, a hand saw and some tools. Windows of the Cass School were picked by the outfit last night, this job leading to their downfall as bold, bad boys because the janitor recognized them. Last week, police say, Lyle and Donald stole a 55 bicycle from Haynes Bros., shed which they tried to sell for $5. The same pair broke four seals on Ann Arbor freight cars and stole a round of cheese. Tobacco, candy and a pipe were taken from a drug store. The three boys made a haul of fishing tackle from a boat house about two weeks ago. They obtained a quantity of tools when they broke in Cummer and Diggins mill. Lyle is accused also of breaking in the Harristown Supply House about two weeks ago when several articles were taken.