Burglarizes Same Store Three Times
Cartwright boy gets caught last time and is sent the industrial school.
– Wisconsin Valley Leader | September 18, 1902

Chippewa Falls - Frank Morely, a 10-year-old boy living in Cartwright was sent to the industrial school at Waukesha yesterday for burglary. He broke into the Farmers’ store at that place three nights in succession and stole money. The last night he was caught in the act of capping the till.

Chad's Take: Where are they now?

It must have been a slow news week as this story was featured in the paper with a nice big headline. During the same week other Wisconsin reporters wrote about a woman who was attacked by a snake that was hiding in a bucket of apples and also of a man who while sleeping was nearly chewed to death by a rat. When the man woke up his wrist was so gashed that he almost died before the doctor could reach him.

However this story is pretty fun as well as I truly love stories of characters in the Chippewa Valley and this kid was certainly a character. Unfortunately I never spent the time to dig up any information on what ever became of this persistent young man. I always wondered if his time at the Industrial School changed him or if maybe he kept his ways and became a great thief in operating out of Wisconsin. Either way I hope he learned not to rob the same place three nights in a row. Just writing about this story has fired up my interest and I am going to find out what happened to this kid. I will let you know as soon as I discovery this guy’s fate.

Keep an eye out ...