SIGNAL BOX OPENED.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 213, 7 September 1921, Page 4

SIGNAL BOX OPENED.

CELLS TAKEN BY YOUTH. ADMITTED TO PROBATION. The danger likely to accrue from < tampering with the contents of signal boxes on the railway was impressed i upon a youth of seventeen years in pro- ! ceedings before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., this morning. He was charged that on or about the month of August he removed from the railway premises at I Newmarket 20 cells, and, further, that by so doing he committed an act of mischief which might have obstructed the working of that section of the railway. When arrested on Sunday last he made a. statement to the arresting constable to the effect that he opened a 'box fixed to a signal post and removed four cells, and that on three other occasions he had taken four cells. Also, that on 1 August 23, accompanied by another boy, !he "took another three cells, and his ' companion one. In connection with the I latter trip the young fellow exonerated I his pal so far as the work was con- ! cerned, stating that he did that, that his ! mate only went with him for company's sake. The cells were recovered at the lad's home. Four of the cells had been adjusted to work an electric light in the I waahhouse. It was made clear that the I youth's parents were not conversant with j the lad's exploits. i Charles William HalL an electric line i inspector in the employ of the Railway j Department, referred to the trouble I apart from the present case that the j Department had experienced as the I result of signal boxes .being interfered i with. In respect to the present charge, ; he said that the sequel to the cells having been taken from signal boxes might have resulted in a misleading- signal ■being given to the signalman. The tampering with railway signals was a very serious matter. ! To Senior-Sergeant Rawle: It was ' possible for a collision to have occurred ■as the result of the cells having been i taken from the signal box. The youth pleaded guilty through his counsel, who stressed the fact that the lad had had an excellent record at ' Fchool, written particulars of which ' counsel handed in. He suggested that ■ the trouble the boy was in could be attributed to the fact that he was completely engrossed in matters pertaining to electricity. He also mentioned the fact that the lad, about six months ago, met with a bicycle accident, and received concussion of the brain. In support of this he handed in a doctor's certificate. In conclusion, he contended , that the signal (boxes should be under , bettercontrolsoas to exclude all possij bility of a serious accident happening. ; After perusing the lad's school record, ! Mr. Poynton said that he was eorry to ! see such a lad in trouble. He referred !in particular to what might have happened as the result of the young fellow's action —a serious accident. As a warning he placed the lad en probation for two years.