TAMPERING WITH RAILWAY SIGNALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

TAMPERING WITH RAILWAY SIGNALS.

A DANGEROUS AMUSEMENT. At the South-Western Police Court, London, a few days ago, Sidney Corfield, aged 17, living at 61, T!iralo Road, Streatham, and William Scpbell, aged 16, living ftt 13, Lcverson-street, Streatham, were summoned for wilfully interfering with the signal wires on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company's lines. Mr Austin, the company solicitor, stated that on February 7 two plainclothes officers of the Metropolitan Police were in Convers Road, Streatham, when they saw three boys, two of whom were the defendants on the railway close by the signal, ,'d then they saw the arm of the signal moving up and down. At that moment a train passed on the way to Victoria. They hurried down to the line and found that the bovs had been trying to wedge the wire that connected the signal with the signal-box. Fortunately, the weight at the bottom of the signal was too heavy to allow the wedge to remain in position, so that the arm flew up to " danger." If this had not been so a serious collision might have taken place, since two trains passed the spot at tho time- and if the wedge had been effective the signalman would have lost all control over the wire. Mr. Francis: I can t conceive a more monstrous piece of mischief. Evidence was given by tho police-con-stables and by the signalman in support of the solicitors statement. Brand the signalman, stated that the second train that passed was a London and North-Western special. In answer to the magistrate, he said an appalling accident have resulted from such tampering with the signals. Mr. Francis committed the defendants for trial, and refused to grant bail. The prisoners were brought tip at Newington Sessions, when the jury found the boys guilty, and sentence was postponed.