CHILDREN'S COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 11

CHILDREN'S COURT

GANG OF FIVE BOYS BIG LIST OF CHARGES (Pkb United Press' Associatioh) BLENHEIM, July 24. ' A gang of five boys, all under 14 years of age, appeared in the Children's Court this morning to answer 36 charges, involving the conversion of motor cars, the theft of money, chocolates, watches, hot water bottles, electric Latteries, and bicycles, the offences being spread over a lengthy period. One of the party, in company with two others not before the court, after being concerned in the theft of motor vehicles, proceeded to Picton. There they sold stolen bicycles, and with the proceeds paid their fare to Wellington, their intention being to proceed somehow to the United States, but the arm of the law gathered them in. The police stated that one of the fathers at least had thrashed his son, "I think almost too severely," added Sergeant Smythe. The father of another boy said he had thrashed him unmercifully, an,d offered to take the lad's trousers down there and then and exhibit the weals in court, but the Bench declined.

The police said that on one occasion the ringleader got out of bed late at night, made his way to the homes of two other members o'f the gang, aroused them and, with them, went joy riding in converted cars.

One lad was committed to an institution for two years, and the others were 'placed under the charge of the welfare officer for one year.