YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 204, 29 August 1929, Page 10

YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL.

AT CHILDREN'S COURT. MANY CHIMES OUTMNEB. BORSTAL FOR THREE YEARS. . >lt is probable that had this youth . -iofc been caught so early in his opera'tione in Auckland, he would have bad, iAuekiand in a state of turmoil by his .breaking and entering and thefte from houses in the city," said Detective-Ser-geant T. Kelly about a tall, well set Up " boy of ldji years, who appeared before ; Mr. E, 0. Cutten at the Children's Court thin morning on seven charges, which included bifeaking and entering and 'tteft and obtaining goods by means 01 valueless eheques. Mr. Kelly said that when tea years of. kge accused had been sent r to the Werfeiroa Boys' Farm. He did not take the Farm seriously, for: he escaped and later absconded on several occasions from places where he had been sent to ;work. Hβ had committed crimes in a number of towns all over New Zealand. -Accused had even been as far south as Dunedili, arid had Worked his way north .'canvassing for photographs. On July 19 last he had been fined £2 at Taumarunui for theft of clothing. Afterwards he had i'gotte to Helensville- and stayed at 'a jboardinghouse, leaving without paying fcis board. He also appeared before the '•Court there for theft. The youth then "Returned to Auckland and took up canpassing. His method was to visit the doors of houses and knock, if •there was no answer he burst in the I'floors and went inside and Stole. In one 'house where he smashed the door in he \ entered and stole two blank cheque forms. These he, filled in and went to a lilothier's and obtained an overcoat anf fcat worth £5 by false pretences. "After considerable trouble we ascer!.itained these facts from this boy, ,, gaid llr. Kelly. "He says that he absoondetifrom employment at Carterton and'en■jlered three houses there, stealing sums 'hi money. Hβ then went to Wellington K and on to Christchurch.. He stayed ( at iieveral boardinghouseS but did not pay ■ Ijiss board. Hβ rambled around Christ- ' 'iphurch, and he admits climbing'up a pipe ■..,;•' 'end entering a house by the window. says he will not stay at Weraroa is eent back there, and adds that he i 'sooner be sent to the Borstal f '.Institute. I think that is now the only ' >'place for him." "I think bo, too," said Mr. Cutten. -%', 'Accused was consigned to the Borstal .' sfaietitute for & period not Ajthree yeare.