125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator.

Serious charge is lodged against Joseph Sadler, aged 9 years. Dangerous pastime. Small boys drop heavy stones from the Market Street Bridge onto trains.

Joseph Sadler, aged nine years, whose parents live in 183 Myrtle Avenue, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Detective Porter of the Pennsylvania Company. The charge against the youthful prisoner is a very serious one in the eyes of the law.

It is alleged that Sadler is one of a party of boys who for some time past have been amusing themselves by dropping stones from the Market Street Bridge onto freight and passenger trains of the Pennsylvania as they passed under the bridge. On several occasions, brakemen have narrowly escaped serious injury as a result of these pranks and numerous complaints have been lodged with the company’s detective force. A day or two ago as a freight train was passing under the bridge, a rock weighing two or three pounds was dropped from the bridge and struck a rear end brakeman on the shoulder, almost knocking him from the car. Had the weight struck him on the head, it would no doubt have inflicted a fatal injury.

Detective Porter has been on the lookout for these lads for several days and yesterday caught Young Sadler in the act of dropping stones from the bridge. He was arrested and taken before Squire Webb where he pleaded not guilty. Sadler was allowed to spend the night at home and given a trial this afternoon.

The penalty provided in case of conviction of such charges is quite severe, the law says: ‘Whoever willfully throws any stone or other hard substance, or shoots any missile at any railroad car, train, locomotive, or at any cable railway car, or streetcar, used for the purpose of carrying passengers, freight, or both, within or bordering the state of Ohio, shall be fined not more than $50 ($1,900 in 2024) and imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than three years or in the county jail not more than six months.’

The next issue offered the following update:

Let off easy, Young Sadler escaped with a small fine. Joseph Sadler, the nine-year-old boy who was arrested for dropping rocks from the Market Street Bridge onto passing freight trains, was given a heading in Justice Webb’s court late Thursday afternoon. The arraigned Sadler pleaded guilty and was fined $1 and the costs. Owing to the extreme youth of the accused and on his promise to avoid such action in the future, the fine was remitted and he was allowed to go on the payment of costs.

Detective Porter stated this morning that he is after a number of other boys who were guilty of like offences and that he proposed to prosecute all he captures.