A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12653, 6 September 1904, Page 7

A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

SMALL BOY BOBS TWO SHOPS. At the Police Court yesterday a small boy named Leopard Parker was charged with stealing £3 from the shop of William Everitt, and £2 10s 6d and a. football, worth 2s, from the shop of Mrs. Frances Murphy. The shops in question are in Korangahape Road. '■■'" •'••-• ?..'■' ': Mr. Skelton, representing the accused, said that the facts were rather, sad, and such as might justify the magistrate jn taking a lenient view. The accused, who was but seven ape- a-half years of age, was the second youngest of seven, and as his father was at present away from Auckland and his mother was too' ill to attend to him, ho was out of control. The beiit course that the magistrate could pursue was to commit the lad to the industrial school, but as a conviction for theft would tell upon the accused in future years he suggested that the cases should be dismissed. The boy's father was willing •to compensate the prosecutors as far as his means} would allow, and then, further, he was also prepared to pay for his son's upkeep at the public institution. Chief-Detective Margack, conducting the prosecution, mentioned that the accused was also caught robbing a till in* Porisonby some time ; ago. As the accused was so small the police did hot take proceedings, and the ease did not come to light. The boy, however, had not taken heed of the warning then administered. He agreed to the suggestion that, the boy should bo sent to an industrial school, but he" did riot see why convictions should not be recorded. Mr. Kettle, ' the- ' magistrate presiding, agreed with the detective. The boy was then convicted upon the charges and ordered to be committed to the Burnham Industrial School. ". '' ■'''', ""' '