A YOUTHFUL THIEF

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 42

A YOUTHFUL THIEF

MASQUERADING AS A GIRL, ROTORUA, August 16. The police at Takapuna, being suspicious of the movements of a girl, demanded an investigation of her belongings, and found in her possession jewellery resembling articles that were stolen from houses. Tho police matron was about to search the prisoner, when a policeman, struck by the resemblance, asked: "Is that you, Norman?" The boyish voice, accompanied by tears, admitted that he was. The identified boy is 15 years old, and was arrested in the South Island some weeks ago for thefts at Woraroa training farm, but he escaped from custody at Wellington, and committed thefts at Napier and elsewhere before reaching Auckland. He was in possession of a considerable sum of money.

He was brought before the Juvenile Court here last Saturday, committed to a local home, from which he deserted. When arrested he was clothed in well-made female attire. When the lad who had been masquerading as Ada Reeve was before the Polico Court the Probation Officer said he exercised a disturbing influence over the other inmates in the Probation House. The magistrate ordered his transfer to Weraroa and the return of the stolen property to the owners. <i.i—»iui ii ji inn mil