YOUTHS IN COURT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 50, 29 January 1937, Page 2

YOUTHS IN COURT

ESPLANADE INCIDENTS. MAGISTRATE’S WARNING. Arising out of incidents which occurred at the Esplanade on the evening of October 11, 1936, six youths appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, fe.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North to-day, on a charge that they behaved in a disorderly manner at the Esplanade. They were John Stcedman, George Thornton, Bruce Dennis Bell, Leo Newlands Boniface Leslie William Puklowski, and Joseph Raymond Franklin. Mr L. G. H. Sinclair appeared for Boniface, and the others were not represented by counsel. A plea of guilty was entered in each ense. . . Senior-Sergeant Mclntyre said defendants, on the night of October 11 and successive Sunday nights, had resorted to the Esplanade and made their presence objectionable to visitors to tho reserve. They had paid attention to passing cars and thrown clods of earth. In one instance a car window was broken and a woman passenger was injured. Considerable annoyance had been caused by the gang’s depiedations. Thornton had been before the Court : for disorderly behaviour and fined, , last year. There had been no complaints of recent date concerning the youths, the police inquiries having had a good effect. Mr Sinclair said Boniface and Bell had only been twice at the Esplanade, and had made no regular practice of “hunting with the gang.” There had been no objectionable language used. Boniface was 18 years of age at the time of the offence. Counsel was confident there would be no occasion for concern about Boniface’s conduct ill the future. His employer took an interest in his welfare and he ‘would have the benefit of his employers’ influence and home influence.

Mr Sinclair suggested that sentence be postponed for a year. Mr Stout said ho could find no jurisdiction for placing the youths on probation, but probably he could suspend sentence. Perhaps a small fine would prove salutary. “The boys may be alright individually, but when they get together they 'indulge im a. little horseplay,” the Magistrate commented. He .would not consider suppression of the names when youths made a nuisance of themselves to fellow citizens. They must realise that that sort of thing would not be allowed. Addressing the youths, the Magistrate said he would take a lenient view as a result of their recent good behaviour. He would fine each of the defendants £1 and costs. “It may be amusing to you, but it was no amusement to the motorists to be spattered with mud and stones,” added Mr Stout. “You must take your amusement in some other way.” Three younger hoys were dealt with in the Children’s Court on similar charges.