"SILLY, STUPID & IDIOTIC"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2552, 28 August 1915, Page 3

"SILLY, STUPID & IDIOTIC"

——• —-$ .' . GIVING FALSE FIKG 'ALARMS, The extraordinary oase. of a young man who, in the course of his journey in an. express to Lyall Bay, on August 11 last,- gave ; no fewer, than four false alarms to the fire brigade, came un- 1 der the notice of Mr. D. G. A. Co'oper, S.M.j in the Magistrate's Court y^ster-; day. , According to the statements of •Mr. E. M. Beechey, who appeared for the City Council, defendant, Sydney Jones, as he drove' his express from Stewart Dawson's oorner, gave his first call to the brigade by telephone at 5.56 p.m. At a further stage of the journey Jones got down from his express,' called at the Tramway Hotel, and gave the brigade a second call. Again, at 7.5 p.m. th£ telephone roused the fire brigade at the bidding of. Jones.' As a ■fitting finale to this extraordinary behaviour Jones, at 8.18 p.m. shattered the gla-ss of the fire alarm at Rua Street, Lyall Bay, and gave th'o unfortunate brigade the) fourth call. Mr. Bc'echey remarked- that- ; as. each' turn-ing-out of the ; brigade ; was estimated to mean £5 in wear - and tear, it had had £20 worth of wear at Jones's ding. ."The reason for-defendant's act I do not know," remarked Mr.,Beechey. ill conclusion. "I can quite understand the fact that Mr. Beechey cannot giv<>' any reason,"- said Mr. P. "W. Jackson, who appeared for aocused, "this ( is because Jones cannot'give any reason himself." Mr. ■ Jaoksoii proceeded to state that his client's- action was "purely one of bravado."; He was,la member of the i fire brigade at Kilbirnie. and had a discussion with: a friend on the question of fire alarms. Jones declared-he.would give. an active exposition of his , theory that thei brigade, would turn out at a call." Jones's friend was curious arid said the brigade would riot. Jones won tlie argument, however. ._ Mr. Jackson. further, said his' client was otherwise a decent fellow, liad been recently the sole support of his mother,and was absolutely crazy on fire works. "He's capable of better things," said counsel in, conclusion. "I hops so," said Mr. Cooper. Mr, Jackson, continuing, said Jones had enlisted.- Counsel hoped his client would 'have his liking for fire alarms gratified at the front._ His Worship said-it would • serve Jones right if he were to, fine him £5 for each r of' his "silly, ; stupid, and idiotic" actions. Jones was fined £2 oijf each of the first , three Charges, and £5 on the fourth. and : was further ordered 1 to pay costs ■ totalling. £1 16s. Jones was allowed fourteen days to find the £12 16s.