AN EVIL INFLUENCE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 11 September 1917, Page 1

AN EVIL INFLUENCE.

BOYS IMITATE A FILM SCOUNDREL. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, September S. At the Juvenile Court to-day, three lads were charged with entering a house, wilfully damaging furniture, and theft. It was stated that the lads deliberately smashed the furniture with an axe. The probation officer stated that the boys had confessed that they hurt been influenced by several pictures depicting I incidents in the career of a criminal known as "Stingareo." Five groups, involving twenty boys, in various suburbs, had appeared at the courts during the last three weeks, and had boon charged with committing crimes in imitation of the principal character 1 in the picture, 1 Mr Frazer, S.M,, telegraphed 'to the Under-Secretary for Justice suggesting that the picture should be banned.