A FIRE FIGHTERS1 FRIEND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13929, 12 June 1909, Page 3

A FIRE FIGHTERS FRIEND.

TAMPERING WITH AN ALARM BOX.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 11. As a result of a series of false alarms of fire on the sth iust., to which the brigade responded on each occasion, a young man named John Evans was charged in the Magistrate's Court today with wantonly setting in motion the fire alarm in Hopper Street. Doris Harris, residing in Hopper Street, said she saw accused and another man on the night of the sth inst . Witness had been informed previously that a false alarm had already been given in Wallace Street, and consequently she suspected two men. One of them she remembered as accused. She saw him deliberately break the glass of the alarm with his pocket knife. Witness spoke to him, and hlr replied that there was a fire. Witness did not believe him, and accordingly she tried to hold him. They struggled, but subsequently the man was successful in freeing himself by means of throwing her down. He made off and witness followed him to a house in South Avenue. The second man had preceded accused. When witness arrived at th» house she overheard someone say, "Come in, Jack, you'll cop ont for this." Witness took stock of the surroundings and returned to Hopper Street and informed Superintendent O'Brien and a constable of the occorSuperintendent O'Brien, of the Fire Brigade, and Cbnatable Belcher gave corroborative evidence. . The defence was a denial of the charge, accused saying he was in bed about an hour and a half prior to the occurrence. , , , Mr. RiddeU, S.M., convicted aeonsed and fined him £3 and costs 255, in default seven days 7 imprisonment.