MISCHIEF DONE BY TWO YOUTHS: SIGNAL PENALTIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22826, 22 December 1948, Page 3

MISCHIEF DONE BY TWO YOUTHS: SIGNAL PENALTIES

iS.R.) OPOTIKI, Dec. 21. “The obvious place for him is Borstal, but that would make a worse liar of him than he is now,” said Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., dealing in the Opotiki Court with a youth named William George Parkinson, one of two defendants in a prosecution alleging extensive mischief on. the properties of two Opotiki residents. The charges varied from doing damage to a rowing boat to killing poultry, theft of produce, and conversion of a boat. Parkinson pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and was represented by Mr. N. V. Ilodgson, while Sergeant J. Isbister conducted the prosecution. Evidence of the damage done to the two properties and to a boat was given by Horace Rutledge and Selwyn Park, and a youth who admitted that he was concerned with Parkinson in the offences deposed 1o having gone out with him at night, and started a general campaign of mischief by stealing fruit. They had gone on to destroying parts of the gardens in the residences of Rutledge and Park, and damaging Rutledge’s boat by prizing off a plank. They later killed some poultry, throwing the carcases away. Admission Forced on Companion This witness further alleged that after he was interviewed by a constable he had been approached by Parkinson, who with his sister pressed him to sign an alleged.- confession admitting that he alone was responsible for the damage, and that Parkinson had had nothing to do with it. This alleged confession had been prepared for signature, and contained the statement that witness had inculpated Parkinson, in his statement to the constable, by way of revenge for past wrongs. Witness was told that if he did not sign the statement, he would be given a thrashing. He then signed the document.

Under cross-examination, the witness said there had been bad feeling between the Rutledge family and his, and he had not been on good terms with Parkinson for some time.

Constable McCurragh staled that he had interviewed both the youths, and Parkinson had denied any responsibility for the damage. When told that the other youth had implicated him, he said he would think over the matter of making a statement. Later he returned witli the alleged admission by the other youth. He claimed complete innocence, and denied any knowledge of tree-tomato skins found under his home. Ordered To Leave District The magistrate took note of an alleged admission by Parkinson that he had whistled to the other youth to come over to his place. This coincided with the evidence of the other boy, who was not, in His Worship’s opinion, capable of producing the alleged admission unaided. Ho had evidently signed it because ho was afraid of Parkinson. After hearing evidence by the defendant, who claimed that he played cards throughout the evening on which the mischief was done, the magistrate indicated that he held him guilty. It was then disclosed that Parkinson had been placed on probation twice, and was a ward of the State up to the age of 21 years. Penalties imposed by the magistrate were that Parkinson should leave the Opotiki district, and accept and remain in work approved by the superintendent of the Child Welfare Department. Conditional on these points, he was ordered to come up for sentence within two years if called upon.