HOUSE BURNT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1937, Page 4

HOUSE BURNT

YOUTHFUL BURGLAR’S ACT TO COYER UP TRACES OF THEFT (Per Press Association—Copyrightj. CHRISTCHURCH, September 12. An extraordinary case of a young [boy setting tire to an occupied dwelling to cover up his theft of a gold medal, valued at 15s. "’as revealed in the Children’s Court on Saturday morning Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided. Three charges were preferred against the boy, and they involved tlie stealing of a bicycle valued at £l7 5s ; the breaking and entering of a house from which he stole a medal, and the setting on lire of an eight-roomed lumse, valued at £SOO. A plea ol guilty was entered in each case. The police statement revealed that the boy was fifteen years of age, and was at present under the guardianship of the State. 'He bad been licensed out to work in the country, and on the day of the Springbok-South Canterbury match, he entered a house some 200 odd yards away, when the occupants had gone off to the- foorball match. He stole the medal, and afterwards, when lie saw traces of gum hoot marks on the premises, he set fire to some papers, which resulted in the house being burnt to the ground, and the whole of the contents of the house being destroyed. The cycle was stolen later, and had been recovered.

Counsel for accused said it appeared that special circumstances made it difficult to manage the hoy. The whole of the crimes, he said had arisen from one series. The hoy had burnt the house to cover up his theft, and had then stolen the bicycle Tn order to get home to his mother.

“There are sneeial circumstances connected with this boy,” observed Mr H. A. Young, S.M., in announcing that the boy would undergo a special examination, and that he would no returned to the Department.