JUVENILE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 11

JUVENILE COURT.

- (Before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.) 10 SECONDS' START. Some sort of juvenile feud must have been responsible for the incident which resulted in the appearance this morning of two little boys, who did not deny the breaking of four windows, valued at 10/. When passing along a Ponsonby street the two diminutive offenders met a tiny chap who was nearing his home. "You've got just ten seconds to get inside yer gate,*' was the ultimatum of one of the two. and the wee fellow made speedy tracks. Whether or not he beat the time limit the police records do not disclose, but it is officially known that when the sprinter, by persuasion, reached the shelter of the family gate, he turned and demonstrated defiance by pulling faces at the tormentors. Thereupon the latter gathered unto themselves many stones, with which they bombarded the gate. But bad markmanship wrought havoc among the windows, and the boys were very soon in trouble. Next time there would be heaps of trouble, said his Worship, who discharged the lads aftei warning them that flying stones often knocked out people's eyes. TWELVE STROKES OF THE BIRCH. Two brothers, aged nine and fourteen respectively, appeared as the result of ar unlawful visit to Mt. Eden South publl< school and St. Barnabas Church. Books and other articles in the school had been stolen, together with small sumi of money. In the church eollectior .oxes were take"n from the wall anc broken open. Altogether the sura ol £3 5/6 was involved, and the parents were ordered to make restitution of thai amount within three months. The magi strate was of the opinion that tin smaller boy must have been led astrax by the big brother, who should hav"> known better. Senior-Sergeant Bawl, said the big boy had been in some minoi scrapes before. On one occasion he ha«i been found secreted behind a counter ir a grocer's shop after the premises hac been locked up for the night. The pro prietor went back only by chance ant discovered the boy. Mr. Poynton. S.M. spoke severely to the elder boy. who had made a very had start. He' would re ceive twelve strokes of the birch by way of correction. Tlie small brother war discharged. 200 "DEADWOOD DICKS." "This bov*s mother informed mc that she hud found about 2110 Deiulwood Dicks' in his belongings." remarked Hie Juvenile Probation Officer, when a sallow youth pleaded guilty to charges involving the theft of ii patent pencil. 110 penny stumps and some cheque forms. It was stated that the boy'-* mo_l character had been undermined by an insidious habit, which he had practised for year*. On one occasion, when away iou " holiday in ihe south, lie picked the j oockets of boys who wen? swimming in a public bath. The Probation Officer's report being so unsatisfactory, it was decided to commit the youth to the home, and his father agreed to pay 15/ per week maintenance for him. -