Pranks, Vandalism, and Village Crime

Raiding the Gardens

Complaints are being made about children getting into gardens and helping themselves to fruit. Both girls and boys have been frequently seen on the Falconbridge property as well as in other gardens.

The Liberal,July 19, 1891

Torching the Park Gate

Last Thursday about dark some of the boys set fire to the arch which had been built over the gateway leading to the Park. Had the fire not been seen by some of the neighbors the gate and fence would soon have been in a blaze. It is true the arch had ceased to be an ornament, but the trick was a bold one nevertheless.

The Liberal,August 1, 1889

"Lifting" a Pocket Watch

One of the workmen at the Methodist Church, named Blanchard, had his watch stolen, out of his vest whilst working on the tower the other day. The boy who was suspected and accused of the crime denied it at first, but at length owned up, and said he took it as a joke. His father could not see the joke, and punished him severely, after making him return the watch. Stricter home discipline for the future, would appear to be beneficial in this case.

York Herald,May 5, 1881

Running a Toll-Gate

One night last week, as a number of young people from near Richmond Hill were returning home from a party in Whitchurch, they took it into their heads to pass through the toll gate [south of Aurora] without paying the required fee. In order to accomplish this they broke down the gate, and smashed things up generally - no doubt thinking it was good fun, and that they would not be found out. The gate-keeper, however, set a constable to work who succeeded in finding out their names, and, upon threatening to bring them before a Magistrate, they compromised the matter by paying the fees and all costs for damages.

The Liberal,February 3, 1882

Cruelty to Animals

Horse thieves in Richmond Hill?

Some evilly-disposed or miserable person went into Rev. F. Elliott's pasture field some time during Thursday night and cut the hair off the tails of his two horses. Horses with long tails at this season of the year have a hard time in protecting themselves from the attacks of the flies, therefore what must it be like for those animals who are deprived of this weapon. As Mr. Elliot seems to be at peace with the world, the most likely solution is that some contemptible individual wanted horse hair and took this way of getting it.

The Liberal,August 4, 1898