JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 12

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

CHILDREN'S COURT CASES. SEVERAL BOYS IN TROUBLE. ESCAPADE WITH AIR-RIFLE. A number of juvenile offenders appeared in the Children's Court on Saturday. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., presided, and with him were associated Mf. W. M. Jackson and Mrs. N. E. Femer. Two boys, aged 14 and I*j, admitted damaging three panes of glass valued at £1 10s, and being in possession of an air-rifle. They subscribed 8s 6d between them, and bought the air-rifle. They then fired shots at an empty house, breaking three windows. "One could forgive you for getting the air-rifle," Mr. Cutten said. "But one cannot understand your firing at the windows. That was sheer wickedness. The damage to the windows is small, but the damage to yourselves is considerable. You will lose the air-rifle, but your parents will have to pay the cost of your damage." The father of one of the boys complained that the cost of the broken windows was too high, and the magistiate suggested he should "take it out of the boy's hide." "It is pretty hard on me," the father said. "This is the first day I have done any work for some time, and I had to stop to come here." The Magistrate: The only thing to do is to put the glass in yourself. The father said he could not do it, and he was allowed time in which to make good the damage. A woman, who was charged with sell ing the air-rifle to the boys, said the lad who bought it said he was over 16, and looked older. She was ordered to pay 16s costs. THEFT OF BICYCLE ADMITTED. Another boy, aged 14, admitted the theft of a bicycle from the Domain. He had been in trouble before, said Mr. Moody, who appeared for him, but was. a good boy to his mother, and a hard worker at school. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said the offence was committed a few days after the boy had appeared before the Court and had been admonished on a charge of mischief. An officer of the Child Wei fare Department said the boy had been under the supervision of the department since November 30, 1926. He had had the advantages of the Y.M.C.A., but this had not had the desired effect. A bad feature was that he led his two younger brothers into trouble. The mother said the boy had always wanted a bicycle. She supposed he had been tempted and had taken it. He had been very severely punished, and she was sure she had done her best to make him a good boy. Detective-Sergeant Kelly: When the boy arrived home with the bicycle, did the mother know it was stolen ?. Mr. Moody: I am afraid that most boys, like all men, are li&rs. The mother described the machine as "a ramshackle affair, ready for the scrap heap." She had not been surprised when her son said it had been given to him. The case was adjourned for six months, the magistrate remarking that the Child Welfare Department could bring the boy before the Court during this time if he did not behave himself. "A LOT OF YOUNG SCAMPS." An escapade in a Penrose factory resulted in the appearance of five boys, two of them little more than toddlers. They were charged with destroying 40 gallons of linseed oil and stealing six tins of condensed milk and a quantity of lead, pencils and rubber bands, of a total value of £7 18s 6d. The boys admitted turning on a tap of an oil-drum, and when they were asked in turn whether they had taken any of the other goods, there was a chorus of "yes, sir." One small boy added in h shrill voice, "But I lost mine." "You are a lot of voung scamps," the magistrate said. "This should be a sevpre lesson to you." The father of two of the bovs said he had threatened them once before for plaving in the glassworks. The Magistrate: It is not always thrashings that do them good. You should keep in touch with them and correct anv tendencies to do wrong. That is the best way. The parents were ordered to pay the damages. One father said he had seven children to keep, and he was, allowed to pay at the rate of £1 a month. A sixteen-year-old boy pleaded guilty to theft of cigarettes and money of a total value of £3 7s 6d. It was stated the boy had a good home and sufficient pocket-money to make the theft unnecessary. He hnd discovered the key of his father's bach opened the door of a tobacconist's shop. "You have everything in vonr favour," the magistrate said. "Why did you do this thing ?" There was no answer. Mr. Cutten admonished the bov and ordered the father to make restitution of the value of the cigarettes.