CHARGES AGAINST BOYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16896, 8 July 1918, Page 6

CHARGES AGAINST BOYS.

TERMS OF PROBATION ORDERED. Various charges against juvenile offenders were heard before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., on Saturday morning.

Three boys, two of them 15 year,s of ago and one 14, admitted that they entered the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist churches at Epsom on various occasions and stole sums of money and two communion dishes. It was stated that ono of the oldor boys, who was the ringleader, had conceived the plan, and he and his confederate had made a practice of leaving their homes late at night without the knowledge of their parents, for tho purpose of visiting the various churches. The younger boy" was not conoerngd in tho thofU from the churches, but had been f resent when an attempt was mado to reak into the Mount Roskill Road Board offices. The three boys were placed on probation for six months, the ringleader being also convicted On a minor charge and ordered six strokes with the birch.

Two boys, 15 years of age, admitted the theft of explosives from magazines and of two cameras from a Queen Street shop. Chief-Detective McMahon said the boys had become interested In explosives and had taken gelignite and blasting powder from magazines, part of which they had used in experiments, and on one occasion in assisting a gardener to remove a clay bank, and had also blown out somo post holes for him. When questioned tho Soys made a complete admission, and also confessed taking the two cameras. Tho boy« were severely admonished by the magistrate and were placed on probation for six months.