HARBOURING A BOY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 18

HARBOURING A BOY

ESCAPED FROM A HOME CHARGE AGAINST FATHER The unusual charge of harbouring an escapee from a probation home was admitted in the Police Court yesterday by Thomas Joseph Wilson, a wood vendor. Inspector Edwards said Wilson was the father of a lad who had been committed, with his three brothers, to the Mount Albert probation home on August 4. Three days later three of the boys escaped, and one of them, aged 13, went to the home of the father, who made no attempt to notify the police. v "A man who did not give shelter to his own children would not be a man at all," defendant said. He complained that when the children were committed he was told he would be able to see them once a week, but now they had been sent to Wellington, and there was no chance of his soeing them. The magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean: I suppose they were sent away because of their escape. Inspector Edwards said the case had been brought partly to let the general public, as well as parents, know that it "was 'their duty to. notify the police if any inmates who escaped from pro-' Kation homes" W6re sheltered by them. No one could say what mischief tho boys might get into while away from control. "One must allow for natural feelings in this case," said tho magistrate, in convicting and discharging defendant.