DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 14

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

OFFENCES BY YOUTH.

Four charges of damaging private property were preferred against Roy Cecil Healy, a hotel porter, aged 19, in the Police Court yesterday, Senior-Sergeant McCarthy said every act had been done deliberately and wilfully. Police evidence was to the effect that Healy had damaged the gateposts and letter boxes of F. Wakefield, H. P. Carlson, H. Jenkin and J. Andrews, of Newton, at night, causing annoyance to the owners. In a statement made to the police accused admitted he knocked ornamental woodwork off fences and gates, and that he had broken letter boxes. Asked if he had anything to say, accused replied: " I am sorry 1 did it; but I tried hard to keep out of mischief." The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt ■ Tried hard! Why did you have to try at all ? Could not you keep your hands off other people's property? At your age you should have known better. It is a pity the people did not catch you and give you a hiding. That is what you need. In fining accused 10s and costs on each charge, and directing him to repay the amount of damage done, the magistrate remarked, " that will make a hole in £3 or £4."