'Dangerous’ Boy Of 11 Put Under Care

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 3

'Dangerous’ Boy Of 11 Put Under Care

(New Zealand Press Association)

GISBORNE, July 30. “You are too dangerous to let loose,” Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M. told an 11-year-old boy who was committed to the care of the Superintendent of the Child Welfare Division when he appeared in the Children’s Court this afternoon. The boy was charged with assault! with intent to injure, on June 7, and with breaking and entering.

He had previously pleaded guilty to both charges. “I am so shocked, so alarmed, that anyone could be so cruel. You might have killed the man,” said the Magistrate. “If you see something in the pictures that is no reason for you to do it.” The boy was ordered to make restitution of £9 10s 2d.

At the previous hearing on June 3, Detective-Sergeant B. H. Constable said a woman awoke at 6.35 a.m. to find someone in the room. She woke her husband who gave chase, but the intruder slammed a plate glass door in his face and the husband smashed straight through it. Cornered in the bathroom, the intruder struck the husband with a claw hammer. The husband ducked the blow which was aimed with such force that medical attention and stitching were necessary.