THE BIRCH ORDERED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 6

THE BIRCH ORDERED.

TWELVE STROKES FOR BOY. ASSAULT ON LITTLE GIRL. "This boy is incorrigible. Nobody can do anything with him," said Sergeant jßowell in the Juvenile Court this morning, when a lad aged 12$ years appeared on a charge of assaulting a girl aged 11* years. ' The lad's mother was a respectable, hard-working woman, with seven children, and a waster of a husband, continued the sergeant. She had to under- ' take the whole responsibility of rearing the children. The boy had been in trouble twice before, on one occasion ] for theft, and on the other for mischief. In each ease his hard-working mother had made good the money. "He's a regular young rascal, sir," concluded the serpeant. "How did he assault the girl? What 'did he do, anyway?" queried Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. "Lifted up her clothes, sir," replied the serpeant. "Oh, did he! Well lift up his clothes, and give him twelve strokes of the birch!" said his Worship sternly. Then, jto the juvenile probation officer: "I supI pose you know how to lay it oni" "Yes, sir." "Well, make no mistake about it. He shouldn't be able to sit down for a day or two!" observed the magistrate. I An order was made that the lad be I committed to the Auckland Probation Home.