TOWN EDITION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 100, 26 April 1909, Page 8

TOWN EDITION.

JUVENILE COURT.

(Before Mr T. Scott-Smith, S.M.)

ALLEGED THEFT

Three small children, the eldest, about ten years of>ge, and the others tight and nine years respectively, were charged to-day with, on the 17th April, stealing from the old vicarage in Weld' Street five dolls, eleven , pin cushions', one baby's dress, a number of' flags, and sundry small articles, of the value of 30s, the property of the Trustees of the Churcn ■of England. • The facts,of the things being taken were admitted as regards the two younger children.' When the chil- , dren took the box of goods home'the mother sent them back with it, and also sent the elder girl with them to see that they did return, it. The. • older girl therefore had nothing to do with the actual taking of the. things, but simply went with the other two children to see that the box was returned. Sergt.-Major Maspn said it was a painful thing to bring such small children before the Court, /and he, would take the responsibility of not. pressing the charge. He hoped the mother would make an effort to keep her children under proper control. Evidence .was given to support the charge, and the mother of the two younger children went into the box to adduce the facts as given in de-. fence/, laying stress on the fact that the elder girl had been innocently brought into the case. ' His Worship, in dismissing the case, said that he did not think the children understood they were committing any offence when they took the things, and he would ask the mother to be careful and see that they did not get into trouble again.