JUVENILE LAWLESSNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9327, 10 October 1893, Page 5

JUVENILE LAWLESSNESS.

At the Police Court, yesterday morning, before Messrs. W. McCullough and J. H. Hannan, justices, David Charles Hill, Thomas Richard Stone, John Cuthberbon, John Halloran, and David McKinnie, five young boys, whose ages ranged from 13 to 16 years, were charged thab on the 7th October, they did feloniously break and enter the premises of Messrs. Donald and Edenbotough, and did steal therefrom 28£ dozen oranges, to the value of £1 Ss 6d. Sergeant Gamble conducted the prosecution. The Court was crowded. As the boys came into the dock they looked round the Court and smiled ab some of their companions in the crowd. On being charged the lads pleaded guilty. Sergeant Macky gave evidence as to the arrest of two of the boys. They told him that they had disposed of 6.£ dozen of the oranges to a fruiterer in Victoria-street, and had also given a dozen for a stick of Derby tobacco. Acting-Detective McMahon deposed to arresting Cuthbertson and McKinnie. Cuthbertson said he did not think his mates. would have given him away. McKinnie stated trfab he had nob been in the store, but had been placed outside in order to see the coast was clear ; in payment he was to receive dozen of oranges. Joseph Cobterall, fruiterer, said he bought five dozen of oranges from a boy on Saturday evening. Witness gave 3d per dozen for them. He could not recognise the boy again. The oranges were of a poor quality, and 8d per dozen was a fair price. In answer to Sergeant Gamble, witness said he did nob think there was anything wrong in buying the oranges from the boy at that time of night. The Bench: Are you accustomed to buying oranges from boys? Witness : No. The Bench : Have you ever bought oranges before from boys ? Witness : Wo. The Bench : How came you to buy these oranges ? Witness : The boy came in and asked me if I would buy a few dozen oranges, and I consented. The Bench : Did ib nob strike you that boys of that size were nob dealers in oranges ? Witness : No ; the oranges were of very poor quality. The Bench : Ib is not a question of quality. It is a question of buying them. As a rule storekeepers do not buy oranges from boys, but from dealers; ib oughb to have struck you in a momen thab boys of thab ago were nob likely to bo sent to sell oranges ab thab time of nighb. The Bench were continually pointing oub to traders thab a moment's consideration should tell them the boys could not have come honestly by the oranges. If traders would not buy the oranges, the boys would nob steal them. We hope ib will be a lesson to you in future.

Harry Campbell deposed to having exchanged a stick of Derby tobacco for a dozen of oranges with the prisoner McKinnie. In answer to Sergeant Gamble witness said the reason he had informed Sergeant Macky that he had not bought any oranges was because the Sergeant was very nasty, and he (witness) wanted to be as disagreeable. To exchange oranges for tobacco was an everyday occurrence. The witness was examined at considerable length by the sergeant, with regard to his reluctance in giving information to the police. The Bench warned the witness against the practice of buying goods from boys, and stated that if anyone was brought before them on this charge they would inflict the heaviest penalty. The Bench asked the lads if they had anything to say for themselves. Cuthbertson said he meanb to have left Auckland that day. He had been looking for a job in the registry office. The boy Stone said that Mr. Strathern had told him that he had a position for him at Onehunga. The other lads had nothing to say. Mr. McCitli.ougii asked if any of the boys parents were in Court. The father of tho boy Halloran said that this was the first time his son had been before the Court. He was a pretty fair boy as far as boys went. The police could toll more about the lad than he could.

Mrs. Stone stated that her boy was always home at an early hour. He had been working at the rope works for six months.

Mr. Hill said his Bon wa3 a good boy. He was not uncontrollable.

Mrs. McKinnle stated she had never had any trouble with her boy. He was always home early. The Bench addressing the boys, first dealt with Cuthberton. Thoy told him that he ought to be aware that it was a very serious offence that he had committed. He had been before the Court previously, and had been punished. The punishment had nob been enough. The Bench had great reluctance in sending boys to gaol, but they mush do it in order to make an example. They would sentence him to fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labour. If he came before the Court again they would give him six month?. The boy Stone would receive the same term of imprisonment, as he had been with Cuthbertson when last before the Court. The boy Halloran was the next to be dealt with. The Bench said that ho was the youngest boy. Under the Justice of the Peace Act they could whip him. They would order him to receive twelve strokes of the birch, and they . would ask the constable not to spare him. With regard to the other two boys, they seemed to lave had little to do in the matter. They would have the conviction recorded against them, and would be discharged ; but, if they came before the Court again, they would receive six months' imprisonment.