THEFT OF BICYCLE LAMPS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11279, 21 May 1902, Page 8

THEFT OF BICYCLE LAMPS.

YOUTHFUL CULPRITS AT COURT.

The two small boys, Leonard and Edward' Bourke, who pleaded guilty before a bench of Justices to thjree charges of stealing bicycle lamps, came before Mr R. B-.tha._i, 'S.M., yesterday, to be "dealt 'with under the Industrial Schools Act. Sub-Inspector Black stated that two other charge, of the -same kind had been" adjourned owing to the non-appearance of a witness, and that .four new charges had been brought forward. His Woi-hip called the parents of the boys before him. Th© father stated that he was. a painter, and was in work. There were five (boys in the family, a,nd as school had recently (broken uip for a fortnight, it was hard to keep them inside. Tho two lads before the Court had asked to be allowed to sell .papers, and it.was while they were supposed to be doing this' that they had stolen the lamps. • , -Mrs Bourke said that during the last fortnight her husband had kept the (house going, as far as she know, on the earnings of the eldest _on. For three months previous to that, he had given her nothing. She had managed to let one of the rooms, but her husband took the money. She went out charing herself for three days a week, and Bourne - spent his time doing the washing-up and ot_]t_r housework. Detective Livingstone deposed that the people were very respectable. • Sub-Inspector Black said that ali the lamps had (been sold at different times to .the same, second-hand dealer, Mrs De Weston. . ', Mrs ,De Weston explained.that she-had cro_s-e___n_ned the boys pretty rigorously as to where they had go the -lamps, a_d they had declared that they gob them from their cousin, who had a large number which he wanted to get rid of. They came with sever. altogether. Mr Beetham—"lt was a very stupid thing for, you. to take -them. ;You are too old to be i ta_en,__ by such a story, and must be more, c__e__l." Mrs De _W__-t___--*'___ey're older than I am; in their ways." His; Worship then said that if seemed a monstrous state pi things'for Mrs Bourke to be compelled to go out __aru__, while her- husband was in the prime of his iife, and did nothing. It waa Bourke, and not the children, who wanted punishing. If he could not get work at his trade; as should go etoaebreaking or do anything. Mr fi__-k»-r'May I have a word to say?" - His Worship—"No, you may not." Mr Beetham said, that it was too much onus for the. woman, to go eh .ring and look after the children properly. If her husband refused to work in future, she would know, her,remedy. - He was very unwilling to order the boys to an industrial School, and would send them back to their home. ' If their father would not work, Mrs Bourke would know what to do. Mr Bourke (persuasively)—" Your Worship?" Mr Be_th___ jsternly)—"No." The next case was then proceeded with.