ADOLESCENT CRIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23053, 2 June 1938, Page 15

ADOLESCENT CRIME

WILFUL DAMAGE TO CARS MUSEUM WINDOWS BROKEN GAOL FOR TWO YOUNG MEN [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "Probation in this case is out of the question," said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., when dealing with two young men to-day. "Adolescent crime is serious in New Zealand at the present time, particularly as regards the taking of motor vehicles and the damaging of motor vehicles." Tho accused were James Joseph Furlong, aeed 22, storeman and packer, and Lyall Reginald Thornton, aged 21, driver. They Avere charged with wilfully damaging five motor-cars to the extent of £67 and a fence to the extent of £7, and wilfully breaking nine panes of glass in the windows of the Dominion Museum. Furlong was further charged with wilfully breaking a pane of glass in a Harbour Board notice board, and Thornton with wilfully damaging two tiles, tho property of the Harbour Board. It wa» unfortunate, said Mr. Luxford, that both came from good families, but he was not going to take that into consideration. Four months' imprisonment was imposed on one charge of wilfully damaging a motor vehicle. Furlong was placed on probation on another charge. Both wero convicted and discharged on tho remaining charges. The evidence- showed that the accused got a bottle of whisky and were going about drinking it. After first being at a skating rink and a dance they went up to the Dominion Museum and threw stones at the windows. Afterward they amused themselves by releasing brakes on cars up Brougham Street and allowing them to run down the slope to stop where they would. A visit to the harbour sheds followed.

Counsel said the men had beer before the whisky and one could only assume they were crazy with drink.