A YOUTHFUL GANG

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20957, 11 September 1933, Page 8

A YOUTHFUL GANG

POSSESSION OP LARGE ARMOURY A sawn-off pea-rifle, a German military pistol, a .22 repeating rifle, a double-barrelled gun, a "life-pre-server" filled with lead shot, and a large bowie knife were among the articles in the armoury of a gang of youths who appeared before the Children's Court on Saturday. Their activities, besides an assault on one of their number, theft, breaking and entering, and unlawful converison of a motor-car, included breaking into a church and taking the vestments for use as robes in their assemblies, which were summoned by one who signed himself "The Dark Stranger." The boys, whose ages range from 16 to 18, appeared first of all in the Magistrate's Court, but the magistrate said that he had decided that they should be dealt with in the Children's Court. They were accordingly brought before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Mr T. W. West, J.P., and Mrs T. E. Taylor, J.P. Messrs P. P. J. Amodeo, C. S. Thomas, R. Twyneham, and R, C. Abernethy appeared for the boys, who pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop said that the first offence had been committed on June 7 by one of the boys alone, but from then oh they had been associated in various acts which had culminated in their arrest at the ond of August, following an assault on one of their number. It was alleged that on the night of the assault a firearm was presented at the boy concerned. The boys were all of a highly intelligent type. Magistrate's Remarks. The magistrate remarked that the probation officer had given a favourable report on the previous life of all the boys. They had been punished in a measure already. It was only by the indulgence of the court that they had been treated like school children, for they were liable to severe punishment for their offences. It was fortunate for them that they were brought to book when they were, and he thought that they had too much sense not to appreciate the gravity of their offences. He did not anticipate that there would be any more trouble with them, but a hold would be kept on them for a while to help them. , , , The boy:; were each placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer for terms varying from one to two years, and were ordered to make restitution. „„ ... , ~. Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt asked the magistrate if he would say a word to the boys about the reading of pernicious literature. It might do them a world of good. He was. quite certain that there had been indulgence in dangerous literature on the part ot one boy, and that influence had gone through him to others. Mr Thomas: That's where the sandbag came from. , , .. . The magistrate remarked that one thing had yet to be added. He would make an order that the boys should not in the future associate with one another. The boys had heard what Archdeacon Haggitt had said. He thought they would have enough sens* not to indulge in that sort of reading.