Youths Admit Wrecking Theatre And Shoe Shop

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28606, 7 June 1958, Page 14

Youths Admit Wrecking Theatre And Shoe Shop

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 6. Acts of vandalism to the Esquire Theatre, Grey Lynn, and in an Avondale shoe shop, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage, were admitted by two youths in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today. Nicknamed “Tarzan” and “Yank,” they were part of a group of youths who usually met outside the Majestic Theatre to plan their offences, said the police. The youths. David John Polden, aged 19, and Melville Michael Patrick Moore, age'd 18, both workmen, admitted four charges of breaking and entering and theft, a of breaking and entering and mischief, and two charges of attemnted • breaking and entering. . They 'were remanded till Monday for sentence. At one time, as police listed their vandalism in the shoe store. Mr L. G. H. Sinclair, S.M., halted proceedings to order them to stop muttering and sniggering to each other, and he warned Moore particularly: “ This is not a laughing matter.” Damage To Theatre Mr H. W. Austin, the police prosecutor, said Polden and Moore and a juvenile broke into the Esquire Theatre late on Tuesday night last week. They ransacked the manager’s office, slashed the screen, slashed machine belts, and did other damage in the projection box, cut carpeting and threw sand and cigarette butts over the floors, and stubbed cigarette butts out on several seats. The total damage was £169. They smashed through a glass shutter into an adjoining milk bar, took handfuls of sweets and other stock, and flung them around, and opened the refrigerator and poured soft drink over stocks’ of ice cream. The total damage here was £23. Next night, with two juveniles, they broke into several places in the Avondale shopping centre. In the Urgent Dispensary they stole films and flung stocks on the floor. They broke into a beauty salon, failed to enter two other places, and broke into I. A. Roadley, Ltd.’s shoe shop. In Roadley’s they pulled down

scores of shoes, threw french chalk over a workbench, and flung irremovable shoe dye over the floor coverings and shoes. Then Polden slashed the back and seat of a settee with his knife. The total damage was £lB2. Mr Austin said Polden was wearing shoes stolen from the shop when he was arrested. Interviewed by DetectiveConstable M. T. Churches, neither youth had any explanation other than they had broken into these places because they were short of money. Both carried knives —Polden a sheath knife and Moore a pocket knife, said Mr Austin. Both had been living in a condemned house in Freeman’s Bay. They were on their way to a meeting place outside the Majestic Theatre when arrested. Both had admitted playing a version of “chicken,” stubbing cigarettes out on the backs of their hands, said Mr Austin. Polden, who was released from the Invercargill Borstal in March, admitted a further charge of a breach of probation. The juveniles concerned with them had appeared in the Children’s Court, said Mr Austin. Restitution from all of them would amount to £ll5 each. Wharfage Collection The importers section subcommittee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce will wait on the Lyttelton Harbour Board to discuss the board’s plan to collect its own wharfage dues. Several members of the chamber’s council said at a meeting of the council that the proposal appeared troublesome and a substitute should be considered. SHAKESPEARE’S PORTIA BLAMED A Shakespearean ac/or, playing Shylock recently, said Portia was to blame when he missed a cue, and remained speechless. A glimpse of her pretty ARISTOCcIad ankles had distracted him! All over the world people are noticing ARISTOC, the softest, sheerest stockings ever.—Advt.23