BOYISH BURGLARS.

NZ Truth, Issue 58, 28 July 1906, Page 5

BOYISH BURGLARS.

INDUSTRIAL- SCHOOL - RAISED ROGUES.

Th« unappreciated pleasantries of some youthful midnight marauders have been disturbing the sense of security experienced by the dull going residents of Rangiora and its environs lately, and the police were momentarily nonplussed ; but the fat is in the fire now, and three persons — two of them said to be ex-industrial school boys (good old industrial school)— are under lock and kev for a Variety of offences. The initial cause of the arrest of two of i/hem, George Nottingham, aged 19, and Walter Lander, aged a year less, was the fact that they had been seen at Farmer Donnal's haystack. Farmers are sus- [ picious of people who fool round their haystacks, because so many of them disappear through fire. So Farmer Donual had a look at his comfcusti'bie edifice and discovered A NICE LITTLE PLANT there, consisting of a bottle of wine, three empty bottles, and a lot of cigars. Being acquainted with the names of the two luxury loving 'gents jthe rest was easy for Sergt. Rogers, who bailed the pair up on the doorstep of a house in High-street. They, made a. bolt for it, however, but afterwards caved in. They gave an apocryphal account of how they, became possessed of the sundries, saying that they had "found" them. A bad lie seldom 'has a long life, though, and when investigations were- in progress the two midnight prowlersstated where the rest of the swag would be found, or most of it. It was concealed in the house of one of the accused who resided with his amiabi« mother, but she disclaimed all knowledge of it. THE CHIMNEY served as a hiding place, and from there was unearthed JBlft odd, and a lot of other articles which had been reported stolen from various places, including a tempting lot of cigars. Also, there were a couple of fully loaded five-chambered revolvers. The couple had had a good time in Christchurch with some of the lucre and purchased the weapons, and the reason for\this latter outlay can only be surmised. Next day Tea Cox arrested a third young fellow" on a charge of having burgled the North Canterbury Co.-op's place and taken £13 odd and a decent lot of adhesive, stamps. Five or six places were burgled in all, and the haul was pretty good considering. Later— Thursday. At the Supreme Court on Wednesday Walter Lander and Geo. Nottingham, who had pleaded guilty at Rangiora to burglaries and thefts, came before Judge Cooper for sentence. It was shown that Lander had been under the domination of the eider prisoner and was not a young fellow of criminal tendencies. Mr Johnston therefore asked that he be admitted to probation. His Honor said that the Probation Act did not extend to burglary. However, as the accused's references were good and the Probation Officer's report was favorable, he would deal with h^m leniently. If his brother entered into a bond for accused's future behavior sentence would not be passed, but if he offended again punishment would be meted out on the present charge. With regard to the case against Nottingham his Honor acted in a toj tally different manner. He said accused was a person of criminal tendencies, and most dangelrous criminal tendencies at that, as it appeared he [went about armed with a loaded revolver. That sort of thing could not be tolerated ; the public must be protected from persons of Ms class. His r sentence would be three years' imprisonment with hard labor on each j charge, the sentences to runvconcur- \ rently. There was a third accused concerned" in the Rangiora Court proceedings, -one George Murfitt, who was charged r jointly with Nottingham' in one case !' of burglary; but, whereas Notting|.ham admitted the offence, Murntt defied it. He was; committed to stand his trial at the forthcoming sessions.