A DAMAGED LIFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 220, 16 September 1924, Page 5

A DAMAGED LIFT.

• WORKMAN'S MAD ESCAPADE. DEMONSTRATING ITS SAFETY. A charge of wilfully damaging an electric lift to the extent of £3, the property of the Business Blocks Company, Limited, was preferred against Alexander HillhoHSC (27), at the Police Court to-day. Mr. Matthews appeared for accused" who pleaded guilty. Chief Detective Cummings stated that HilUiouse bad been employed by Turnbull und) Jones. Ltd.. from March 1 to July 16. On June 2U he went to the .Mercantile Chambers, where a lift had been installed. Afterwards it was found that the lift gear bad been interfered with. 'The lift limits had been shortcircuited with a piece of wire bent up in order to fit the contacts of the limits, wliich made them inoperative. The top lock of the shaft bad also been forced with an instrument. Although accused had been employed in the installation of tlie lift, he was a the day in question, and had no authority to touch the lift. A warrant hail been issued after accused could not be found in Auckland and lie was arrested at Christchurch last week. One thing in accused's favour, was that be bad afterwards fixed the mechanism so that an accident was prevented. He had never been in trouble before and his employer at Christchurch was willing to take him back. Mr. Matthews said that it was just a mad esvapadc on accused's part ami the case of the pride of a workman for his own job. lie and a friend had become a little "warmed up," and accused had taken the friend in to demonstrate the safety device on the lift. Accused had helped to instal the lift and was a skilled electrician. He was a decent respectable chap and greatly regretted bis foolish act. Counsel asked in view of tho expense that accused had been put to, that he be ordered to pay the damage and costs of tlie prosecution. Mr. Poynton convicted and ordered accused to make good the damage done, and to pay the costs uf prosecution.