THE YOUTHFUL BURGLARS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 4

THE YOUTHFUL BURGLARS.

TO BE TAUGHT TRADES. REFORMATIVE TREATMENT TRIED. Eric Street and Selwyn Hodges, the youthful burglars whose capture in Dominion Road a few nights ago, was the beginning of tbe revelation of their precocious exploits in crime during the past couple of months, came up for sentence thie morning before Mr. Justice Hosking.

Mr. J. R. Lundon pleaded for leniency in the ease of Street. The opening .was not auspicious. Counsel _*_ observed that tlie prisoner wa« 17 years of age — would be 18 years in July next —when bis Honor pointed out that Street was on the gaol list as being 20 years. -This age, counsel explained, had been given by Street at the instance of another prisoner in order to secure greater privileges in the" way of tobacco allowance. Judging by the laconic comment from the Bench the effect of this explanation of diplomatic ability was probably not what had been expected.

Counsel explained that Street had no trade, and, since leaving school, had worked in a tea chop, a hard ware store, and a bookseller's shop. Then he bad gone to sen, and had returned home in September last, cured of all desire for further experience afloat. He was at present employed as a butcher's driver. Counsel went on to suggest that Street was easily led, and was, therefore, entitled to consideration on this score, the inference being that Hodges was the evil influence.

Hie Honor observed drily that both prisoners were equally guilty. When young men reached the stage of carrying weapons they had reached an advanced stage of criminal hardihood. One object of punishment, he reminded counsel, was to prevent those who had a weak will from preying upon society.

Hoages had nothing to say for himself. In answer to questions by hie Honor, he said that he had been before the Court on one previous occasion. He was at present working for a fibrous plaster firm. He had not learned any trade, but had been engaged mostly in the engineering business. He was IS years nine months old

The police report regarding Hodges was that he had considerable mechanical ingenuity, but was utterly lazy. His father was an old man, and had no control over his son, who was, moreover, an avid reader of "penny dreadfuls." There was nothing to show that the lads were not equally guilty in all their undertakings.

Both prisoners were sentenced to a period of reformative treatment, not to exceed five years. The Judge remarked that they would each be taught a trade, and would 'have an opportunity to earn sufficient money to enable them to make an honest start when they left the gaol.