JUVENILE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 12760, 13 March 1906, Page 6

JUVENILE COURT.

Mr C. C. Graham. S.M., sat on the bencli a.t a. special court this morning, when a, boy between the ages of fourteen and fifteen was charged with tlie theft during the month of February of various sums of money amorr.tmg to £l7, tho property of the 'livening Star' Company, and "also with stealing some key*, valued at ss. Mi Hanlon appeared for accused, who pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Chief-detective Herbert said that the boy was employed in the 'Evening Star' office', and by force of his position had practical]y the run of the whole establishment. lii consequence of several thefts in the office na-ving been rep. $ ;cd to the police, Detective M'Leod, on the morning of the 9th. posted himself in. ;i, position overlooking tlK> fnnt office of the htdlding. and saw the accusal steal the sum of Is ed from a small cash box. This sum in marked coins had bean placed there on the evening before. Tlie accused Find made full confession of the whole of the offences. The total sum stolen would amount to between £l7 ami £l7 10s, as far us could be estimated at present. Accused, when his position, with the assistance of Mr Axelsen. was I made plain to himself, laid bare ail the ! facts of the different thefts. With the exception of the keys nothing had been recovered. The thefts from the manager's room had been committed in a very bold manner. Nothing was known against the accused. His parents were-most respectable people. The money had been spent oa lollies and on the hire of bicycles. The person who lent the bicycles to the boy, by the way, had made" the extortionate charge of 4s M per day. The accused had asserted that some of the money had been lent to other boys, whom he had named. These boys had denied that statement, but the police felt that they had no reason to doubt the word of accused. Mr Hanlon, addressing the Court on behalf of the boy. said he was the son of highly respectable people, who had resided at Rayensbouroe for a. number of years and bore irreproachable characters. They had reaped then- family very carefully—-this boy was tho only member of the domestic circle who had ' wandered out of bounds. This was ids first offence. The casa was not. parallel with that of other juvenileoffenders who had been before the Court. In some of those eases the accused Ltd been admonished, and, disregarding the warning, had offended again. This boy had not undergone that experience. He had been encouraged by circumstances to do wrong and in his case there had beeu no previous admonishment. Although tho case looked exceedingly bad on account of the number of charges he did not occupy the same platform as other juvenile offenders who had had to take their stand before the. Court. He had at school proved himself highly c.pnble He (counsel) produced a certificate from Mr Moller as to the boy's general character for honesty. Mr Moller said in the document produced that he could not understand the boy's lapse from the paths of honor Mr Ross had also given a certificate. The whole of the money had been frittered awav in those small luxuries for whkh most- boys had a liking. ft was difficult to know what, to do with the accused under the circumstances. He would, however, like to impress on the Court that this boy had not had the benefit of previous admonitions, such as otter boys had had. If the money stolen were made good he would ask His Worship, on that understanding, to be content with allowing tho boy to be dealt with by his father, and punished in presenco of tlie police, A stigma would attach to the boy if he wjre punished by the police themselves. Mr Arolsen, had told counsel of a case where a lad had been thrashed by the police in consequence of a crime committed by him, and Ids life at school*' had been "made intolerable by the other boys. This lad not uncontrollable, and the parents would in future keep a tighter rein over him. He would be severely whipped by his father, perhaps in presence of the police. Counsel would exhort His Worship to adopt the course suggested. Aay severer mode of punishment would be detrimental to the health of the boy's unfortunate mother, who was already prostrated over • these charges. Messrs Moller and Ross were exMayors of Ravensbourne and justices of the peace, and they would not give cortilicates of character unless they were well deserved. In consequence of a suggestion made to counsel, he thought that, pexha.]B, if the boy were whipped in presence of Mr Axelsen that might satisfy the Bench. His Worship agid the certificates of character mostly concerned those of the parents. He thought this was not a case where he ceroid commit the boy to the Industrial School; that was only done when children were neglected by their parents. Of late, these juvenile offences had became very common, and whipping did not appear to have any deterrent effect,. In tlio public interest His Worship dkl not think it altogether wise to have the boy punished by has father. Mr Hatiton asked His Worship, under the circumstances, to make some allowance for the position. The effect of ordinary poHco punishment on thss boy would have a most disastrous effect on the mother, who was now confined to her bed, in consequence of this trouble. Ho hoped this fact would have consideration from His Worship. Ho Knew he was not justified in making the request, but he did so solely I on behalf of tho boVs mother. •' i His Worship said Mr Haaiion was taking a, serious responsibility on his shoulders through 'the medium of hie assertions. He himself would not like to tako the burden of such a responsibility. Mr Hanlon said he had indisputable- evidence regarding the mother's conditioiL

Chief-detective Herbert said he believed that Mr Axelsen could speak as to the facts. His Worship said ho would concede the position, under the circumstances. He thought that children as a rule did not mind a severe whipping from their parents half as much, as they did when the castigv tion was administered by the police. However, on. account of what Messrs Hankon. Axelsen, and Herbert had said he would observe, leniency in his decision. Accused would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that he was. severely punished by the father. He trusted this would be a salutary lesson to the boy. Chief-detective Herbert asked that, in accordance with what Mr Hanlon bad promised, the money should be restored. Mr Hanlon said that though the father could not make restitution immediately, be would guarantee to do so in time. In reply to a request from Mr Hanlon, His Worship asked the Press not to publish the name of the accused boy.