WHOLESALE THEFTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18583, 9 December 1920, Page 8

WHOLESALE THEFTS.

LADS IN COURT. • [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 8. j Seventeen lads hailing from Wei-; Jington South appeared m the Magis-1 trate’s Court to-day to answer _to | about sixty charges of theft of varying 1 degrees, a good many being indictable. J Tho youths concerned, with tho number■! of charges against each, were as foly.fc low:—John William Compton, twenty-; five charges; Roy George Oudley, twenty-two; Leo Francis M’Laughlin. fifteen; Alfred Frank Tyree, fourteen; George Charles 'William Smith, thirteen; John Joseph Ash,' twelve; William Douglas, ten; Clifford WCmot Ross and Kenneth W. Costello, six , each; Albert George Bennett, five: George Rolfe, four; Thomas M’Laugh 1 lin, three; John W. P. Jopson, George i A. R .Irving, Claude Miles, Percy Ed-' ward Hanson and James Campbell, one each. The ages of the lads range from sixteen years to twenty years. They carried out their depredations sometimes in pairs, sometimes three were to gether, and again five of them operated. They were apparently not paiticular whether it was a church, whare, shop or warehouse, that they invaded for booty. All tho lads pleaded guilty to the chargee preferred against them. ' .

The following were committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence:—John B. W. Compton, Clifford W. Ross, Alfred F. Tyree. K. W. Costello, John J. A*h, William Douglas, Georire C. W. Smith, Leo F. M’Laughlin, Thomas M’Laughlin, Roy G. Cudby and Albert G. Bennett. f ■> James Campbell, who was convicted ef one offence, was given a good character by Chief Detective Ward and he was discharged. Hanson was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, with r>, recommendation that he he transferred to Weraroa. George Rolfe, J, W. Jopson, G. A, It. Jrving and Claude Miles were remanded till to-morrow for sentence. ~ ,