A BAD BEGINNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 1

A BAD BEGINNING

TWO DISHONEST BOYS PROBATION FOR TWO YEARS. Tho two telegraph boys who pleaded guilty in the juvenile court to a number of charges of theft from yvostal came up for sentence before tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, on Saturday morning. Mr H. H. Ostler appeared for the Crown and Mr E. P. Bunny for the lads. The Crown Prosecutor had nothing to say to tho lads 1 detriment. They wero of respectable parentage, and they bore a good character. Mr Bunny said that tho police report was favourable; probably tho boys had yielded to sudden temptation without realising tho seriousness of their offence. Ho urged that in view of their extreme youth they bo admitted to probation, and not sent to gaol or to an industrial school. The money stolen—some £'J or —had been refunded, partly by tho boys and partly by their parents. His Honor admonished the lads severely, saying that they had begun life very badly, in a manner which, if per- , in, must lead to a career of crime. ‘‘l shall not imprison you this time,” he said. ‘T shall put each of you on probation for two years, the conditions being that you are not to bo out after your return from work at night, or .before 6 o’clock in tho morning, for a period of nine months. If you aro seen out at night you will b© airested and put in gaol.”