BOY WHO "CHANGED WITH THE MOON."

NZ Truth, Issue 252, 23 April 1910, Page 7

BOY WHO "CHANGED WITH THE MOON."

At the Dunedin Juvenile Court on Monday, a lad aged 12 appeared on an application to have -him committed ; to an industrial school. The father of the boy stated that sometimes be would go to school, but more often he would not. Pie bad not been right since he had been m the hospital with pleurisy and inflammation of the lungs. Sometimes he came homo at 10 or 11 o'clock at night — sometimes he was at Caversham and sometimes at South Dunedin. "When the moon starts to change," said the father, "1 think he changes with , it. He catches hold of a, cat; and starts mewing. He will forget what has been told him and then go to play with the cat." The father ate>o stated that he already had one boy m an industrial school, and he had fallen into arrears m his contributions towards his support. He himself earned 80s pel week;, and a boy of his earned 12s, but there was 8s to pay for cent. He could not make any 'offer for the support of this boy. Magistrate ' Bartholomew : If the bey is •sent to a school you will not have to support him, and therefore you should be abie to pay something. ... ■ Sub-Inspector Phair : I believe the home : J a, very poor one — I don't think there Is anything m it. I ask that no order be made, but that if the father's circumstances improve he be called upon to contribute. On these terms the boy was committed to tbe Caversham Industrial School.