A BAD BEGINNING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 606, 15 September 1883, Page 8

A BAD BEGINNING.

A bad beginning has been made by a boy aged 14, named Walter Harris, and as he seems to have had temptation put in his wayunwisely, the case should serve as a general caution. The boy was employed in the grocery shop of Mr H. Pritchard, Taranaki-street, and at the end of three months Mr Pritchard’s money was disappearing to an extent which caused susp’cion. Various snau had been kept in a box on the mautle-shelf in the sitting-room, and the shopboy appeared to have been taking a few notes at a time, and spending them in a larrikin fashion by buying costly pipes, a fiddle, watch, dulcimer, jack-knife, silver ring, and other tempting luxuries. Mr Pritchard missed a£s note on Friday last, and questioned the lad, telling him to confess the whole truth, and he should not be punished. The boy at first denied it, and then admitted taking several notes from the box. Mr Pritchard believed that at least £3O must have been taken* The boy returned the £5 note ; and on going to the boy’s home £3 more was fetched by the boy from the fowl house, while the mother also found under the boy’s bed a tobacco pouch containing three 321 notes. Mr Pritchard recovered £l2 in notes, and the boy told him how he had spent other money he had' taken. The boy was charged Tuesday, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, with stealing £2514s, which Mr Pritchard knew must have been taken, though he believed the loss waslarger. Evidence was given, aad a number of the boy’s purchases were produce! iu Court.. He pleaded guilty, and elected to he dealt withsummarily. He was committed to onemonth’s hard labor, and to be afterwards detained in the Burnham Industrial School till 15 years of age. Chief-Detective Brownesaid the boy appeared to have got -into bad company. His mother is known as an honest and industrious woman, and seemed much distressed. Mr Pritchard asked for the things which the boy had purchased with his money to be given up. The Resident Magistrate replied that the Act did not give him power tomake the order. If the things had been stolen, they could be restored to the owner. Mr Pritchard afterwards applied to the police, who exercised a discretion by hauding over the= things to him.