MARSHFIELD – In the 1920s, pranks might be dismissed with a “boys will be boys” attitude, seen as harmless hijinks even when they resulted in actual harm.
The era’s humor embraced a rougher edge, such as slapstick violence in silent films, where characters like the Three Stooges routinely fell down stairs, got hit with objects or endured painful mishaps for laughs.
A prank that left someone with a twisted ankle, a black eye and/or a bruised dignity might be shrugged off as character-building, with limited recourse for the injured party and little social stigma attached to the prankster.
Today, these same acts would likely trigger serious consequences, including legal action.
What 1920s society might have called “spirited fun” would now be examined through lenses of consent, liability and harm.
One prank that occurred on the streets of the city in the 1920s might have resulted in greater consequences if it happened today.
On Halloween 1926, Albert Schneider left his home on foot, headed to the store for groceries.
As he walked down West C Street (Cleveland today), Schneider was stunned when he tripped over a rope that was stretched across the sidewalk, fastened to a tree on one end and the porch of a home on the other end.
“The rope, as he walked along, tripped him and he fell forcibly to the cement walk,” a News-Herald story stated.
While a young man ran to his aid to help him home, Schneider suffered flesh wounds to his forehead and around his eyes, swelling one shut.
It didn’t take long for Marshfield police to find the culprits of the prank.
“Three boys about 12 years of age each, suspected of being the perpetrators of the Halloween prank that caused Albery Schneider to sustain painful “ were brought before the judge. Where they admitted their guilt, a News Herald article stated.
“As the prank appeared to be solely of festive spirit, Mr. Schneider was disinclined to be severe with them. It is understood that all he asked was that he be compensated for the medical expenses and the loss of his time from work.”
The young boys were then released from custody and allowed to go home.
No prosecution was planned, on the condition that the incurred expenses were covered by the boys’ families.
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