BOYS KILL SHEEP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 11

BOYS KILL SHEEP.

DISPOSAL OF THE SKINS. MAGISTRATE ORDERS BIRCH. Birching will give throe lads of Tinwald good cause to remember that they may not steal sheep, kill them, and sell the skins. The lads admitted the offence in the Juvenile Court at Ashburton on Friday. The Magistrate expressed the opinion that it was the most serious set of charges he had heard in the Juvenile Court. Tavo brothers, aged 15 and 14 years, and

15 and 14 years, and another'boy, aged” 144 years, were jointly charged before Mr_ Mosley with having stolen a number of sheep. Mr H. C. Or boll pleaded guilty on their behalf. .Senior-sergeant D. Jackson explained that the three lads had caught the sheep, killed them, and sold the skins. So tar sheep to the total value of £l4 7s had been traced. - Mr Orboll submitted that the boys had probably had too much latitude in their homes. The present position into which they had got themselves would bo a severe lesson to them. Counsel asked that they be given an opportunity to make good by being placed under probationary control. Evidence as to the good standing of the parents of the boys was given. “These are the most serious charges which have come before me in the Juvenile Court,” said Mr Mosley, “and I believe they are the first of their kind in New Zealand. The fact that the parents are not bard pressed for a living aggravates the offences.” . _ Mr T. Cummins, probation officer, exnressed the opinion that the offences were the outcome of truancy. The lads had been quite frank with him and none of them had attempted to give the others away or to transfer the blame. The boys had r-iven no trouble whatever at school until "six months ago when their attendances had become bad. The Magistrate said ho could not overlook the gravity of the offence. Sheep had been stolen and killed and the boys had reaped the benefit. They would have to receive the birch, and he hoped it would be a lesson to them. The Magistrate then had the parents of the boys before him and they elected that the punishment should bo meted out by the probation officer. The two older boys were ordered to receive six strokes end the younger lad who.‘it was stated, was delicate, would receive two strokes. The three offenders wore, placed under the strictest probation for a year.