JUVENILE OFEENDERS.

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1919, Page 2

JUVENILE OFEENDERS.

SERIOUS CHARGES.

Five juvenile offenders came before the magistrate charged with thpft in ■everal instances, and with breaking and entering two shops. Three of the lads then dashed off with a horse\and trap, later .pursued by one of -the parents in a motor car. ---Cl The magistrate, 'after details of the escapade, dwelt on the serious nature of the offences, iand. seeing the accused were first offencers, and not being desirous of allowing the law to take a severer course, elected to deal witth the case under the lesser charge of "breaking- in with intent." . SEVERE WARNING. The magistrate informed the boys that the offences with which, they were connected carried with them a term of imprisonment for years with hard labour. He reminded the boys that their action was not far removed from what the Germans did in Belgium. The Germans thought to make a noise and frighten tihe occupants, but once on the doubtful path they could not stop, and were guilty of great crimes. "BUFFALO BILL NONSENSE." The magistrate deprecated the reading of such stuff. Three copies, of "Deadwood Dick" and "Buffalo Bill" reading matter were shown as being the part cause of the lads' misdemeanour. "Get 4iold of something decent," was the excellent advice from the bench, and the stories of Henty, Kingston and Ballaivtyne were instanced as very good reading. Mr Levien said tine boys could not stand the strain of sensational "pictures," remarking that they were unable to regard tlhe instances depiotede as exciting stories only, and not as incidents to copy. THE DRINK DANGER. Reference was also made to the drink habit and Us hold on the men who "cannot pull back after one drink," ultimately becoming disreputable drunkards. The magistrate referred to the great disgrace of being in court, and in his homily charged the boys to think of ttieir parents and the pain and grief occasioned. A record would be kept at the court of their action, in ease they did not take t!he .advice given; in which case they would be brought before the court again.