"BRATS OF BOYS."

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 10

"BRATS OF BOYS."

LOCKED UP FOR DRUNKENNESS. SUPPLIERS BEING SOUGHT BY POLICE. PLAIN SPEAKING BY MAGISTRATE. Three youths, none able to look back over twenty years, wero paraded be- : fore an astonished Magistrate at the Court yesterday morning. Two of the lads wero aged eighteen years and one was aged nineteen. According to tho story made known by the police, the trio on Tuesday afternoon got intoxicated and, taking a taxi, proceeded to Sydenham, where, after causing a disturbance at Sydenham Park, they were arrested by Sergeant Jackson. The first lad to appear before Mr I H. W. Bishop stated that he was nineteen years of age. He admitted that he had been drunk. Mr Bishop: Why, this is disgraceful : \\ hat did you drink ? Youth: Rum. Mr Bishop: Rumt Terrible I Are voir in tho habit of drinking it at your homo? Youth: No. Mr Bishop: Have you been drunk before ? Youth: No—this is the first time I've been before a court. Mr. Bishop: Then make it the last. Why, this is disgraceful. A nice way to start in life. A young fellow like you going and getting drunk and locked up for drunkenness. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Were you alone? Youth: No, I had two others. Sub-Inspector McKinnon stated that if the police could sheet the business home a great deal more would bo heard of it. Tho Magistrate: I should hope so. Why, this is a disgrace to the hotels of the city—if it is true. Fined os or twenty-four hours. T.'iet. the second of the party was placed in the dock, and admitted his offence. The Magistrate : You heard what I said to the other boy? It applies equally to j'ou. How did you get into this state? Second youth: I don't know. I was all right when we got to Sydenham. Mr Bishop: It's disgraceful. A brat of a boy like you to be locked up for drunkenness! Tho Magistrate, after admonishing the accused, fined him 5s with the alternative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Tho third youth, James Edward Beckett, aged eighteen years, then appeared, lie was charged with drunkenness and with having used obscene language. Ho said that he drove a milk-cart. Sub-Inspector McKinnon: He's the youngest. Mr Bishop: And evidently tho worst. (To the accused): Did you uso this language? Accused: 1 suppose I did—l don't remember. They kept crowding round me and I lost my temper. Mr Bishop: But a boy who'll use filthy language like this when he's drunk must use it at other times., How | did you start on this? Accused: I just took drink at the Bays a year ago. Mr Bishop: Have you had any since?

Accused: No. I only had three shandies yesterday. Mr Bishop: Three shandies are too much for a boy like you. Do you go to church? Accused: Yes; to the Church of Christ. Mr Bishop: To the Church of Christ and use language liko this. What time did this "take place ? Sergeant Jackson: At a quarter to four. There were crowds of school children about: they followed us to the poii-e station. This boy was terrih.lv' drunk. We had to carry him to the pdicc station. Accused: Excuse me. I .usually sieep in the afternoon. That's why I couldn't keep awake. Mr Bishop: Sleep.' What does a boy of vcur age want to sleep in the afternoon lor? Now listen to mo. If you ever coma up before me again, and everybody will tell you I have a pretty good mem-UN, I mil put 'o'i away under control until you're tn'cnt.V'Cni anyhow; I am not going to allow language 'ike this to be used, though I hoar it all over the city. Sub inspector: There is no doubt tbi", someone else is equally to blame with the boys. They've made a clean confession and we believe their statements. We are waiting further inquiries, and we hope to bo able to bring somebody to book. The boys confessed to everything that happened. This boy did not know what he was doing when he used the language. , Mr Bishop: But he must be in the habit of using it when sober. Sub-Inspector: No doubt he's used it before this; but I don't think he'd use it so publicly. Mr Bishop: I won't let him off Fined 5s or twenty-four hours for drunkenness and for tho language 20s or a month.