FOOLISH ESCAPADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 196, 2 June 1930, Page 4

FOOLISH ESCAPADE.

ATTEMPTED ARSON CHARGE. TWO LADS BEFORE THE COURT. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. A charge of attempted arson was preferred against ttvo youths, aged l 4 and 13, in the Children’s Court this morning. Mr H- A. Young, S.M., presided. With him sat Mr W. M. West, J.P. Three boys appeared in the Court, the third, aged 14, being concerned with the first tAA’o in a second escapade of a similar nature, in respect of which no charge was made. Sergeant Hyland said that the youths named in the charge went to a house Avhich was in course of construction. They found the key to the back door in a shed, and AA’ent in. They gathered up shavings in the kitchen and set fire to them, but- before any damage Avas done they stamped the fire out. They also committed a nuisance in the bathroom and in a passage. They had good homes. The Magistrate: Was not there iftiother house, in which the third hoy Avas concerned ?—Yes, but we have no charge in respect to that. The father of the oldest hoy said that as liis boy Avas the largest it might appear that lie Avas the leader, but that Avas not so. On Sundays his son Avas never let out until after lunch. The other tAA’o called twice in the morning, but AA’ere sent .aAV’ay. He had a suspicion that there Avas something amiss, but had no idea what it Avas. His son was not allowed to go aAvay till after 3 o’clock. The hoy had recently had an operation, Avhich might haA’e AA’eakened his resistance. “A good deal of punishment has already been inflicted,” said the father. “The business has taken more than a month, and eA’ery knock at the door Avas a potential policeman. “It has been a great strain on liis mother, and I had to send the boy aAvay, as he could not eat or sleep. It is positively the last time anything of the kind will happen.” .. The mothers of the other tAvo hoys said that they had also learned their lesson. “In these cases,” said Mr Young. “avo have no poAver, even if we thought it advisable to order a thrashing. The report slioaa’s that their home surroundings are quite satisfactory. The Probation Officer says that it was a foolish escapade. Acting on the Probation Officer’s advice, Ave think it will be enough if the boys are admonished and discharged.'’