BOY AVOIDS MAGISTRATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18346, 12 March 1923, Page 5

BOY AVOIDS MAGISTRATE.

» THEFT CHARGES PENDING. TWO LADS TO BE THRASHED.

Some amusement was caused in the Juvenile Offenders' Court on Saturday by the appearance of two diminutive boys, who were ushered before Air. J. W. Poynton, S.M., by a policeman. One was charged with stealing money from clothing hanging in the Domain pavilion. The other, who had evidently not long learned to walk, was announced as " a witness." The principal offender in the case, however, failed to put in an appearance. It was explained that this lad had twice succeeded in avoiding the ordeal of facing the magistrate, ana that morning had been seen making for the Domain in search of a refuge from justice. The magistrate said that such nonsense could not b<j permitted and gave orders that a warrant be issued for the boy's arrest. The other lad was admonished and told never to steal or disobey his mother again. He thereupon left the Court in company with the toddling " witness," whose services were not utilised. A case of a more serious nature was that in which two boys, of about i& and 13 years of age, were charged with breaking and entering a warehouse and stealing certain articles found therein. The younger boy was a Chinese and was described by Mr. Munro, who appeared for him, as an industrious lad who had been under the leadership of the elder boy. He had already been kept indoors by his parents and severely thrashed. ' Mr. Sullivan appeared for the elder boy. The boy's mother, he said, attributed the offence to novels of the "Deadwood Dick" type, Tho magistrate said he did not wish to place the stigma of " thief " on either boy. He ordered each of them a thrashing by their parents to the satisfaction of the juvenile probation officer, who would report en the case in a week's time.

A boy who failed to put in an appearance to answer a charge of riding a bicycle on a footpath was fined 10s and costs, the magistrate remarking that when accused juveniles avoided the Court it was their own and their parents' fault if convictions were entered against them.