JUVENILE CRIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 34

JUVENILE CRIME.

BOY ORDERED A BIRCHING. Saturday was quite a field day in the Juvenile Court when the attention of Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., was required for about two and a-half hours to deal with several oharges against boys, whose ages ranged from 10 to 15 years. In all five boys were brought before the Magistrate, theft and mischief beinng the offences charged against them. Most of the offences had to do with what is known as the boat harbour raid, which took place early in May last, when some 15 or 16 boats and yachts were damaged and various articles were stolen from them. A smart-looking boy, 10 years of age, pleaded guilty to stealing 12s in cash, the property of the Kensington School Entertainment Committee; also the theft of three bicycle pumps, the property of some persons unknown. Sub-inspector Fraser said that when the woman who attended to the cleaning of the school went in to light the fires she found the accused in one of the rooms, and money was missing from a drawer. The bicycle pumps were taken from bicycles which had been left outside a hotel. Mr J. Lock (Juvenile Probation Officer) said nothing was known against the lad, who had a good home. The trouble was that the step-father had not been sufficiently firm with the boy. In adjourning the case for 12 months the Magistrate said the father must take charge of the lad and the mother and grandmother must stay in the background. The case would be adjourned for 12 months, the boy to be under Mr Look’s supervision. Two boys, one 14 and the other 15 years of age, pleaded guilty to the theft of pocketbooks from Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs. Chief-detective Lewis said the boys took the books from the shelves, and putting them in their pockets walked out of the shop. The thefts were not discovered until inquiries were being made with reference to another charge. Mr Lock said the younger boy was the youngest member of a large family of boys, and came from a good home. It was while he was off work and with an injured hand that he got into trouble. He was in constant employment and was apprenticed to a trade. The Ohief-deteictive said the articles had been recovered, but compensation would have to be paid—4s in case of the younger bov and 6s in the other. The mother of the younger boy said her son brought all his money home. The Chief Detective said that when accused of the offence both made candid admissions. The Magistrate said that in view of the younger boy’s previous good character he would give him a ohanoe. The case would be adjourned for 12 months, the accused to be under the supervision of the Juvenile Probation Officer during that period and restitution of 4s to be made forthwith. The decision in regard to the other boy was deferred until further charges against him have been heard. Two boys, 14 and 15 years respectively (the elder boy being concerned in the previous case) were charged with the theft of binoculars, tinned fish, etc., of a total value of £9 10s, the property of Charles Wm. Sund.strum. A boy of 13 years of age was similarly charged. The two eldest boys pleaded guilty, and the younger boy. for whom Mr J. C. Stephens appeared, entered a plea of not guilty. The eldest boy was also charged with committing mischief by wilfully damaginig the launch Norana, the property of C. W. Sundstrum,® to the extent of £4l. Chief-detective Lewis said that the thefts took place from the boat harbour at Pelichet Bay early in May of this year. The 14-yea.r-old boy said that in company with the eldest boy he went to the boat harbour on four different afternoons. They entered quite a number of launches moored there and stole various articles. They secreted the stolen goods in the loft of the pavilion. Detective Sneddon read a statement signed by the youngest boy, denying the offence. He admitted being with the other boys, but denied having anything to do with the alleged thefts. Evidence was given by this lad ana by his mother, Mr Stephens pointed out that the bov had stuck steadfastly to bis story right through the piece. The Magistrate said that the charge had not been proved against Mr Stephens’s client. The younger of the two other boys was an admitted thief and would be convicted. To convict the youngest boy, who had denied the charge, would be to disbelieve him. There was no reason why lie should do that. The charge against him would bo dismissed. Sentence with regard to the other two would be deferred until he had' heard evidence with regard to the charge of wilful damage to the yacht Norana preferred against the eldest boy. Detective Sneddon read two statements made bv this lad, ip which he at first admitted being responsible for the thefts and the damage, and then he denied causing the damage, and admitted stealing some of"the articles. He lkad led the detectives on several wild goose chases when searching for the stolen property, and in no #ase was any property (discovered. He also accused several other boys, but when these bovs were interviewee) they could not be connected with the crime, and were able to give satisfactory explanations. Witness was at a loss to know what to make of the boy. It was useless to try and get (he truth out of him. The father of the lad said he was all right in the home. He was a great romancer at times. lie imagined all sorts of thing* At first vyitness was inclined to think h» had read j an account of the occurrence in the newspapers, and, wish-

ing to make a hero of himself, took all the blame. The Magistrate: The truth is absolutely not in the boy. Would it be possible that the whole thing was not imagination? Charles W. Sundstrum gave evidence with regard to the damage done to the Norana. He valued the yacht at £2OOO. The boat harbour was quite unprotected. Tire damage done to the boat was estimated at over £4O. The boy gave evidence. He denied the truth of the previous statamentg made He said that he onlydwent on board one boat, the Norana, and that was on two occasions after school. The Magistrate then took a hand at questioning the boy. and at the end of ahr»"+ five minutes had to admit that he could make nothing of him. He said ho was at a loss to understand him. In answer to the magistrate, the Chief Defective said that in all 15 or 16 boats bad been raided. He said it was certain " i»4 could not have done all he claimed in his original statements. It was hard to know what to believe. The Magistrate said that the lad appeared to be abnormal. He was a most extraordinary boy. He had made different statements, and had led the detectives on wildgoose chases. The case might be a mental one. There were occasionally cases of individuals making confessions to offences in which they were not in any way concerned. He was inclined to think that 1 i s was a matter of that sort. It would be quite unsafe to rely on anything the lad had said in regard to the present charge. It seemed to him quite a likely thing that the lad had some mental trouble, and that his stories were the result of a diseased imagination. He should bo placed under under medical observation and supervision. The charges of theft and mischief at the boat harbour would be dismissed. On the charge of stealing books, the matter would be adjourned for 12 months, the lad during that time to be under the control of the juvenile probation officer Restitution to the amount of 6s would have to be made. Ihe lad who had pleaded guilty to offences committed at the boat harbour then came forward for sentence. Mr Lock said that nothing was known against this boy. He was perfectly frank when questioned. The boy’s mother said he was at work, and attended the Technical College evening classes. The Magistrate said it was quite possible that a number of boys were implicated in the boat harbour affair. The Ohier Detective said that that was so. V aluable launches and other property was there, and they were practically at the mercy of anyone who liked to go down. There was a nightwatcliman who paid occasional visits. The Norana was much too valuable a boat to be lying there. The Magistrate said that the present case was not one of simple theft. Boats had been broken into, and the offences were of a wamon and mischievous nature. Considerable damage was done. It was a case, in which the court must inflict such punishment as would act as a deterrent. The lad would be convicted and ordered to receive six strokes of the birch from a constable.