Man, 87, Lathes House at Night; Is Jailed

1920

Complaint is Withdrawn and Aged Toiler Praised

OAKLAND, Cal. — The night laborer is not welcomed at Piedmont, Oakland's exclusive residence section. Because he insisted on lathing a house during the nocturnal hours, A. F. Emery, 87 years old, was taken into custody and spent the night in jail.

Within the space of a few minutes no less than eight telephone calls reached Sergeant Phil Brady of the Piedmont police at 3 o'clock a.m.

Brady hurried to a house in Piedmont Manor, and found a man lathing a house by the light of an oil lamp.

"What are you doing here at this hour of the night?" Brady asked.

"I'm working," replied the aged lather, "and no one's going to stop me."

Brady took Emery to jail, but when F. Paramino appeared to swear to a complaint and saw who was the night disturber, he refused to prosecute.

"Such industry should be rewarded, not punished," he said.