A WAYWARD LAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 29 February 1916, Page 9

A WAYWARD LAD.

CHAINED TQ A BENCH. ■ " [ A ca6C presenting some quite unusual features was heard before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper. S.M., at Wellington, on Friday, when Martin McGovorn was charged with cruelty to his son, Patrick McGovern, by Chaining him to a poet in the backyard of his residence in Vivian Street. Inspector Hendry said the offence took place between December 19 and 23 last. "The boy, to my knowledge," continued the inspector, " line been exceedingly troublesome, and his father ' has experienced great diflieulty in controlling him. A short time ago the father brought his son before the Court and applied to have him committed to an industrial school. The request was not granted, as defendant was unable to find securities, and the matter had to stand over." On account of complaints being made to the police in December last, a visit was paid to defendant's yard, and when the constable arrived to investigate it was found that tlio boy had severed the chain by which he was fastened, using an axe for the purpose. The visit was made on the 22nd of the month, and the chain was purchased on the Saturday previous to that date. Apparently the boy was chained up in the morning, let loose at ]uiu;h time, and again at night. No doubt the father was afraid of his son getting into trouble, and this caused him to adopt the course he followed. The boy had run away from home on several oecations, and the aid of the police was invoked to find him. There was no suggestion tJhat the boy was ill-nourished or given insufficient clothing. The father informed the bench of the trouble the boy had given him, and his night searches for him. He would not go to school, and it wae only when witness was working that the boy had been put on the chain. His Worship said the case was an extraordinary one, and the evidence showed that the father had done everything he could for the boy. Chaining him up was not a proper method of restraining the boy, and could not be tolerated, aJthough the defendant had the sympathy of the bench. What the defendant had done could not be deemed to be cruel under the circumstances, and the case would therefore be dismissed. With the consent of • the father, the police applied to have the boy committed to the training farm, Nelson, and the application was granted.