DANGER TO RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17881, 8 September 1921, Page 3

DANGER TO RAILWAY.

THEFT FROM SIGNAL-BOX.

YOUTH TAKES BATTERY CELLS. An unusual case was heard in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., when a seventeen-year-old schoolboy -admitted having on various dates removed 20 wet cells from a battery-box on a signal post on the railway line near the Parnell tunnel. He was charged with the theft of the cells, which were valued at £5, and with having committed an act which might have obstructed the working of the rail-

way. Charles William Hollis, electric line inspector at Newmarket, stated that the batteries operated a check signal that showed the signalman the position of signals which he could not see. When the cells were removed the check signal did not operate. Interference with signals' was a very serious matter from the Railway Department's point of view. An accident might result from such interference. In the present case the department did not press for a penalty, but wished publicity to be given to the danger of tampering with the signals. There had been previous complaints of this sort of thing, Gonstable Collins produced a statement, in which the youth said that with a screwdriver he forced the battery-box near Sarawai Street about 7 p.m. on August 18. He took away four storage batteries. Five days later, about 9 p.m., in company with a yonnger boy, he took four more batteries. The other boy took one home. Another visit was paid on August 28, about 9 p.m., and another on September 1, about 2 a.m.. He took four more on September 4, and this time he was caught. He took the batteries to experiment with some electric lights he had fitted up in the wash-house at homa No one else was concerned.

Counsel for accused, Mr. Shortland, made a strong plea for leniency on account of the boy's previous good character and excellent record at school. The boy had apparently not realised the seriouß effect his action might have had. The trouble was, no doubt, due to the fact that ho was completely engrossed in matters connected with electricity. Counsel further said the lad bad met with a bicycle accident about six months ago, sustaining concussion of the brain.

The magistrate said a serious accident might have resulted from the lad's action. The boy was admitted to probation for a year. In accordance with the rule laid down, the magistrate ordered that the lad's name be not published.