EDUCATED YOUTH’S LAPSE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12558, 22 September 1926, Page 6

EDUCATED YOUTH’S LAPSE

“EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE GOOD” FALSE REPRESENTATION ADMITTED THREE YEARS IN BORSTAL INSTITUTE A well-built youth, Thomas Richard llanrahan, aged 17, stepped in the dock of tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning to plead guilty to a charge of obtaining goods to the value of £l3 17s 4d from Hallenstein Bros, by falsely representing himself to be the son of Mr Donald E. Cameron, a well-known Wadrarapa farmer. “NOTHING IN HIS FAVOUR” “There is not one good thing I can say in the favour of this young man,” stated Mr Shell (chief welfare officer). “We have done the best we can for the youth, your Worship, but our efforts to reform him have proved absolutely fruitless. He has been given every chance to make good, but simply will not take the opportunities offered him.” Some time ago, continued Mr Shell, Hanrahan was sent to the Auckland Grammar School, but his conduct there had been so unsatisfactory that he was ordered to leave. He then was given a clerkship in an office, but his behaviour necessitate! his dismissal. For some time afterwards he was loafing around the city until he secured a position at Featherston, but he soon left this and got into trouble again. “FORGED MR CAMERON’S NAME” “The accused forged the name of Mr Cameron to a letter in order to get the clothes and things from Hallenstein Brothers without paying for them,” said Chief-Detective Ward. “Although the goods have been recovered, some of the clothing has been worn, with the result that a loss of over £2 has been sustained by the firm.” Mr E. Page, S M., ordered the yontli to be detained in a Borstal Institute for a period of three years. Hanrahan admitted a further charge of stealing £2l 7s by failing to account for various sums of money which he collected on behalf of William Escort. On this charge his Worship ordered tho youth to come up for sentence when called upon within three years.