New Britain herald., 1915-01-19
POLICE ARREST TRIO
 WHO RANG IN ALARMS
$2OO Fire and Three MonIhS in JaII
 for Jyhn Meyers.
KELLY FINED SlOO--- RILEY FREED
Officer Dan Richardson Oychears Conversation Which Leads Him to Suspect Guilty Mcn-Policc Cap ture Men in Record Time

ture Men in Record Time.
 Out for good time and not caring what they did, William Riley, aged twenty three years; John Meyers. aged twenty-four years, and James Kelly, aged twenty-two years, visited about all the saloons on Hartford ave- nue, East Main street and Elm street last night and then proceeded to have some more fun" by ringing in two false alarms, one from box 412 at the corner of Elm and Seymour streets and another from box 37 at the corner of Broad and Beaver streets. Through the watchfulness of Officer Dan Richardson, whose suspicious were directed towards the trio because of a previous conversa- tion he had heard, and Sergeant Kelly all three of the miscreants were lodged behind the bars about three hours after committing the offense. In court this morning Attorney P. F. McDonough proved that Riley was not guilty, but was merely drunk and with bad companions Kelly was found guilty and fined s1OO and costs. l the crowd, was fined s2oO and costs and sent to jail for three months. Two False Alarms Sounded Shortly before 10:45 o'clock last 1 night the fire alarm bell was sound l ed once and the firemen jumped up, l thinking an alarm was coming in. ] None came, however, and it was thought that the wires were crossed | The department had just settled down | again when an alarm came in from
 box 412. Quickly speeding to the
 corner of Elm and Seymour streets i it was found that the firemen were i the victims of an ill-timed hoax. 1 Much disgruntled they returned to 1 their respective engine houses, when about a half hour later another call i came in, this time from box 37. Away l sped the department again and again i it was only to discover that it had been called out by false alarm.
 Police Make Quick Arrests. About a half hour after the last l alarm had been sounded Officer Rich ardson and Sergeant Kelly had run down their suspects and Meyers and Riley had been arrested on Washing ton street and locked up. At 2:30 o'clock Kelly was arrested by Ser geant Kelly. All three men were charged with ringing in a false alarm.
 At the police station all three of the men were questioned individually and together. According to Sergeant Kelly's testimony Meyers admitted ringing in box 412, but declared that Riley had tried to do so but had neg lected to pull the lever correctly with 
 once. Later the trio returned to the box at the corner of Elm and Sey- mour streets and this time the alarm rang true. Then from a place of vantage at the corner of Commercial and Elm streets the young men with the exaggerated sense of humor stood and laughingly watched the fire de- partm race by.
 Continuing their walk the young men went to Beaver street where they imbibed a few more drinks and listen I'd favora bly when Myers spot ted an alarm box at the corner of Broad and Beaver streets and said Let's have some more fun" This time Kelly rang the alarm, Meyer said. Another drink in Donohues saloon fitted the gang for another celebra- tion but not knowing whether the box at the corner of Lafayette and Washington streets had a glass front or not they called their evenings en- tertainment finished.
 Riley Protests His Innocence.
 All the while Riley denied ringing any of the boxes. Kelly admitted ringing 412 but at box 37 there was a fracas to see which one would have ]
  ever, said that just as his hand 1 closed over the lever, Meyers dashed | it down, causing the signal to go in. 1
 Officer Overhcars Conversation.
 It was while standing on the cor ner of Elm and Spring streets at | 10:45 o'clock that Officer Richard son first noticed Riley, Kelly and Meyers. He overheard enough of tn cir conversation to suspect that some mischief was up and so, when ten minutes later, the alarm sounded he at once concluded these were the guilty men. He searched all the so- looms nearby for them and then with the sergeant looked further, finally finding Meyers and Riley on Wash ington street. To Officer Richard son Meyers admitted breaking the glass in box 412 but said Riley tried to pull it but was so drunk he could only pull the lever far enough 10 make 1t ring once. On the second attempt Kelly rang it, Meyers said.
 To Captain Thomas Grace, Kelly at first denied all Knowledge of the ar- fair but when presented with the facts said: Well. I suppose it's I'D to me of that's the case Riley told the captain that he did not ring either alarm as he was too drunk to