CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 9

CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS.

JUVENILE GANG AT NEWTON. LADY-NEXT-DOOR STORY. The cultivation of the confidence trick spirit is apparently rife among sections of the youth of Auckland, and an out standing case of this pernicious spirit came before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Juvenile Court this morning, when five boys, of agee ranging from thirteen years to nine, admitted that they had been getting money in the Newton district by means of false pretences. The Sub-Inspector's outline of the operations Ehowed unusual semi-criminal precocity on the part of the oldest of the gang, an under-sized, red-headed lad of thirteen. T.ho was looked on as the ring-leader. He had evolved a system of going from house to house, witli a verbal message from "the lady next door," to the effect ttiat would the lady addressed be kind enough to lend her a shilling for the gas meter. If the lady happened to be "kind enough" to oblige, the lady next dooT would probably be the next victim of the juvenile confidence man. On one occasion the kind lady had no change, but gave the lad half a sovereign, with instructions to bring back the change.

The whole -half-sovereign was shared among the gangsters. Two others of the boys made a speciality of collecting at houses for church funds, of which they were the originators and beneficiaries; while yet another pair specialised in bogus fife-and-drum band collections. The ringleader was an adopted boy. who had been adopted by his fostermother in England some years ago, and he had a. habit of staying out in the street till all hours of the night. The mother of another of the boys had recently cleared out from the home, leaving the children to be looked after by the father. These two lads were com-, mitted to Weraroa Training Farm, while the remaining three, the children of reepectable parents, were put on probation for six months. WITH HIS UNCLE, AGED TWELVE. Two boys of twelve, living at Epsom, admitted that in May last they went into a house in the district while the occupants were away, at the seaside, and therp stole a number of articles, it was stated that the parents of the chiK (iren were most respectable, and the boys generally were of good character, but had got somewhat out of hand. The two lad» were related, one being the uncle of the other, but it was not alleged that the uncle, aetat twelve, was any more responsible for the wrong-doinir than the nephew of twelve. The parent* on learning of the matter, had severely punished both lads, and had arranged to make good the damage done. The youngsters were admonished and put on probation for six months. Three lads of Avondale. who had been making a mark of the windows of an untcnanted house in the townsliip, and admitted having broken eight panes oF glass, were admonished by the Magistrate and discharged.