TEMPTED TO STEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 13, 16 January 1929, Page 8

TEMPTED TO STEAL.

YOUTH ON A HOLIDAY.

WANTED TO GO FARMING.

STORY OF HARD WORK

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, thie day.

A well-dressed lad of good appearanee who stated that he had a college education and had matriculated, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day to the theft of a cash-box and its contents, valued at £26, from a tobacconist's shop at Frankton.

It .was stated that while in the shop the lad noticed where the tobacconist placed his cash-box. He yielded to a sudden temptation and took it, with part of its contents. He purchased a box of cigars, a bottle of whisky, and a bottle of beer, and hired a taxi to take him to his lodgings in Hamilton.

Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.: How did he manage to obtain liquor? He is obviously a boy.

Mr. E. Cox, in pleading on accused's behalf, said his parents were highly respectable. They wanted him to take a position in the city, but the boy wanted to go on a farm. This was the bone of contention which caused him to leave home. He got a job on a farm at Tirau, where he had to rise at 4 a.m., and did not get tea until 8.30 p.m. He had to* assist in milking 80 cows, to feed calves, clean up sheds, plough and fence, and assist in haymaking, for which he received 30/ a week.

Hie Worship: That will cure him of his desire to go farming, I suppose. (Laughter.)

Counsel said the lad injured his back, and while he was in Hamilton lie yielded to the temptation to steal the cash-box. His Worship said that if accused had been a> little younger he would have been tried in the Children's Court. For that reason he would treat him leniently, and in order to give him the opportunity to live his offence down he would suppress his name and grant him probation for two years. Special conditions imposed were that the lad shall repay the stolen money, abstain absolutely from alcohol, and reside in his parents' house during the period of probation, or in such home as his father approves.