Evening star., 1936-02-18
Condemnation of Disposal
Of False Fire Alarm Case
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the Eoltor OF Tne star.
News item: Suspended Sentence Given
Boys Who Rang False Alarms. Twenty.
two Cases Dropped. Papers Marked Sen
ator Davis Interested Corporation Coun-
sci Not Notified"
Is it any wonder crime is rampant?
The fact that the Fire Department was
called out to answer some 20 false alarms
in one evening during this severe wealth
er, thereby increasing the hazards al
ready attending the duties of firemen;
the unnecessary additional danger to
traffic, the unnecessary additional ex-
pense to the city. the possibility of q
great loss of life and property due to the
inability of the Fire Department to re-
spond promptly to genuine alarm while
it is on wild-gooSe chase, are forgotten,
and everything is forgiven because Sen
ator Davis interested"
It is to be hoped that the two young
gentlemen, one student at Western
High School and the other student at
the University of Maryland, and not
roughnecks, as you might well have sup
posed at first, having had their thrill, will
now become law-abiding citizens. In any
event, apparently all that is necessary to
get one out of trouble here is to have
Senator Davis interest himself in the
case. Or would any other Senator serve
the purpose just as well?
w. H. SHIELDS.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Can't you arouse public opinion so
those two false-alarm artists may be
given their just due, Senator or no Sena-
tor? JACOB SOKOL.
To the Editor of The Star:
My respect for your paper increased
many fold when you printed on your
front page Friday, February IA, eloquent
facts concerning the false fire alarm case.
Those of us who read with great indig-
nation of the many false fire alarms were
naturally anxious to hear Of the punish
ment given to the culprits. The danger
to life and property that such an act
causes makes it not a stunt but crime.
We hear of teaching citizenship to
young people. In this case it appears
that Senator Davis secures leniency from
Judge Isaac r. Hit for the son of former
Representative Wyant and his friend.
With such encouragement I shudder to
think OF what other crimes these smart
young men may perpetrate. RESPONSE
bility for them may properly be laid at
the door of those who spared them pun
ishment for this offense.
This trend of events would lead one to
conclude that citizenship is for the hum
BILE: that crime is the amusement of the
privileged, and that those in high places
may be totally devoid of public RESPONSE
bility. JOCIE MADDREY COOVER.
| To the Editor Of The Star:
Any irresponsible person or persons
| can turn in 20 or more false alarms in
| one night, as joke, and simply for a re-
Taxation from the regular routine that
| surrounds such irresponsible characters.
Many fire apparatus and firemen re-
| spending to where duty calls them risk
dangers, in traffic, to themselves and
| others In responding to these false
| alarms.
A diligent police force finally arrests
the irresponsible characters. The boys
| parents are shocked externally, but in
ternally revel in the jovial nature of
| their offsprings. 1t was all little joke
| Why should any one take offense? The
strap and bare back formerly furnished
the means for remedy. But we must
not, in this age of wisdom CD damper
| the enthusiasm of youth. A suspended
sentence in the final wind-up, a mag
| unanimous cancellation of all other
charges which were pending. Wise and
| noble judge. Surely a new Daniel
JOHN H. STAPLETON.