A BOY BURGLAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1702, 16 December 1919, Page 5

A BOY BURGLAR.

TWELVE CHARGES OF BREAKING

AND ENTERING

SIX STROKES (W THE BIRCH

ORDERED,

As a result of having been found jester day evening at 7.15 o'clock in tho premise; of the Premier Drapery Company in Pal ruorston North, a small boy, William Hoare thirteen years of age, appeared in tin Juvenile S.M. Court this morning befor Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. Twelve charges o. having broken and ontered various busines. premises in tho town were then preferrei against the lad. The various premises entered were those of Mr J. C. Wallace, draper, Mr C. M. Penman, tobacconist, Mrs Fenton, Mxwkseller, Mr L. Martin, bookseller, Joe Chong. luuudryman, Messrs Collinson and Cunning - harne, drapers, Mr W. Lowin, tobacconist, Mr A. Clark, paporhangtr, Mr 0. G. Hodgson, wine and Bpirit merchant, and Mr AW. George, draper. Senior Sergeant Fraser conducted the prosecution, and his table was arrayed with tobacco and cigarettes and Buffalo Bill literature as well as a large stone and a screw driver and gimlet. Tho father of the boy was also present. Senior-Sorgenut Fraser said that as the boy was over twelve yours and under sixteen ho would ask that tho charges bo reduced to theft to allow of them being summarily dealt with by tho Magistrate. Tho boy, on being asked to plead, admitted having committed all of the offence.'enumerated, and his fathor agreed to him bein K dealt with by tho Magistrate. Senior-Sergeant Fraser said that the boy had boon caught in the Premier Drapery Company at 7 o'clock last night by Mr Mitchell, an employee of the firm, and was handed over to the police, candle was found in his possession, which ho said ho used to find out where tho till and money was. A large stone producod was that with which tho accused had broken a pano of glass in a door in the ."hopin order to gain access to the look en tho inside.

Plain-clothea Constable Cullotv Baid that ho_ hod searched tho boy. The screw driver and' gimlet produced were taken from Mr C. Penman's tobacconist shop, und later left in a Chinaman's laundry, •mother scono of his depredations. Another candle, produced had been left in another shop. His modus operandi was to break tho windows with a stono in order to gain an en'crunco and in some cases two or thn o windows had been broken. Tho literature produced, stolon from Mr Martin's shoo, was all of tho "Buffalo Bill" type, and appeared to have- been road through und through judging by the thumbmarks en tho pages Senior-Sergeant Fraser said that the boy hud been convicted for theft in September, 1917. It appeared that his parents had no control over him. He would ask the Magistrate to,enter a conviction on each cliarge. The father of tho lad said that ho would boo that in futuro tho boy did not go out at niglit alone. Senior-Sergeant Fraser said that the damage that had been done to windows amounted to approximately £SO. There appeared to bo littlo chance, owing to tho father's financial position, of having any of the damage made good. The (Magistrate: It appears to me that the boy is not under proper control. Tho father: He will be. in future

The Magistrate: Yes, but not by you. If this sort of thing is not' stopped someone is going to bo made an example of. The father urged that probably tho boy had beejiletl astray,bvbau company.' Tlio Magistrate said that it was perfectly clear, that,tho. boy had been doing it all by himself; ftbd actuated by other bov9. If'there had been other boys implicated, tho accused would probably have been riiigleadrr. Ho would have to commit tho boy'tb a training farm, but there would have to be some additional punishment. lie would order" tho boy aixstrokes of the birch to bo administered by a. constable in tho presence of a senior officer. The parents could, if;,thev l so desired,, also attend. Tho. lad would then be committed to tho Nelson Training Farm. His Worship added that thq boy would have to be kept under proper control, and.the thrashing would bo an effective" warning. There were a groat number of such cases going on and they would have to.be stopped with a. salutary lesson to offenders. ' _ | Sonior-Scigoant , Fraser_ applied that an order should bo made against the father for tho payment 'of something towards tho boy's maintenance.- ■•'■'■' In response to inquiry tho father said that he had a family of eight children, the oldest of which was 17 years, and that a further addition to tho.family wm expected at any time., His gross .earningfc amounted to £6 a'wrek as. a.idrayman, out of which ho had to meet the expenses of horse food and shoes and, wear and tear. An order for the payment of 5s a week w.ts made ;by His Worship and tho yoiing rfwas led off in charge of a con-

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