Nails In Chute Vicious Vandalism, Says Mayor

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1940, Page 3

Nails In Chute Vicious Vandalism, Says Mayor

“Talk of bombs in Ireland! This is much worse in my opinion,” The Mayor said this when the Borough Council last night was discussing the report of the Borough Engineer regarding the placing of two nails in the lower end of the main chute in Central Park. The nails were about four inches apart, Mr Cromie stated, and with the heads turned up facing the top of the chute. A person using the chute would not have known of the presence of the nails until too late. The nails were bent l'n such a manner that they would have seriously injured any person sliding down the chute. Daily Inspection. The Superintendent of Reserves found the nails at 8 a.m. on February 6. In the meantime, steps were being taken to have the chutes inspected before 8 o’clock each morning. “This is one of the most vicious things I have heard of,” the Mayor remarked. “A child going down the chute at a fair speed would certainly have been disembowelled.” Appointment of a caretaker would not have prevented the vandalism, which had evidently occurred at a late hour, the chairman of the Parks Committee (Cr. D. J. Thomson) pointed out. Since a reward had been offered for information regarding vandalism there conditions at Mair Park had improved, according to the honorary rangers. Reward Offered. The council decided to offer a reward of £5 for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons who were responsible for driving the packing nails into the large Central Park chute. “I would feel like offering £SO if ft would ensure catching the person responsible for this terrible thing,” the Mayor said. The matter is also to be placed in the hands of the police. Other acts of vandalism in Central Park listed by the engineer included damage to trees, shrubs and the Lovers’ Lane footbridge, and interference with notice boards.