WAYWARD YOUNG SCAMPS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 8

WAYWARD YOUNG SCAMPS

ESCAPADES AT HAMILTON. STEAL HORSE AND RIDE TO AUCKLAND. Two wayward young scamps from Hamilton East, aged 15 and 12 respectively, who, instead' of obeying the police instructions to appear at the juvenile court, Hamilton, to answer changes cf being persons not under proper control, escaped to Auckland oil a stolen horse, later being arrested, hungry, tired, and penniless in the big city, were brought before Mr Young, S lvt., at Hamilton, to render an account of their misdoings (says j the Wailcato T'iimes”). .They were j charged not only on the original count, but with stealing a horse valued at £5, and with breaking and entering Grey | and : Menzies’s cordial factory and stealing therefrom several bottles of lemonade. \ . . “These two boys have beep giving the policy considerable trouble for a long tune,” remarked Senior-Sergeant Mathew. He added that the elder of t!>* two lads a hard-looking, sharpfeatured young “desperado” was the leader in all the escapades carried put. The younger boy seemed to follow * hiu companion wherever he went. “I didn’t take him; he wanted to come,” declared young sharp features. It was further stated by the senior sergeant that the father of the elder boy could not control him, while the mother of tho other' lad his father was dead—seemed altogether too soft with him. Mr P. Goodwin, juvenile probation offioer, was of the opinion that Weraroa was the only place for the leader. The other boy, if away from the influence of his companion, might possibly turn over a new leaf. “I would suggest,” Mr Goodwin added, “that he be given a good thrashing, and hi 3 case allowed to stand down for 12 months.” Oonstablo Kirby, who, as officer-in-charge of the Hamilton East district, has experienced no little anxiety with the two young wrongdoers, remarked that the elder lid seemed to be about the streets at all hours of the night and in all weathers. His Worship fell in with Mr Goodwin’s suggestions for the treatment of both defendants. The elder lad was sent to Weraroa, while the case against the other boy was adjourned for twelve months, the lad to be under the supervision or , } tho juvenile probation officer.