BOYS WITH AIR GUNS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16121, 9 May 1923, Page 5

BOYS WITH AIR GUNS.

BROKEN WINDOWS AND DEAD

CATS

POLICE TAKE ACTION

' From the story told in the juvenile Court his morning, before Mr E. C. Levvev, S.M., by Senior-Sergt. Fitzpatrick, it would appear that a "reign of terror" lias been prevailing in the suburban quarters of Gisborne. The occasion was the charging of two boys under the age of 16 years with using firearms. The two boys did not appear, one being at school and the other at work, but Mr T. A. Coleman represented them, and pleaded guilty on their behalf. His Worship stated that he would have preferred to have had the boys before him, as he would then know better how to deal with them. Under tho circumstances, however, he would accept. Mr Coleman's explanation. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick stated that the two boys had been out shooting with Daisy airguns. They were in a paddock in Gladstone road, and some stray pellets found their way in the direction of a neighbor's hen, which was killed. The police had received endless complaints regarding the use of these air guns, which had become a public menace. Windows had been broken and animals killed with these dangerous guns, which discharged pellets with great force. The senior-sergeant gave a demonstration with one of the weapons to which exception had been taken, and pointed out that indulgent parents were equally liable for providing their boys with these guns. Mr Coleman said that there was little he could add to the senior-sergeant's explanation. Of course, it. was not suggested that these boys were responsible for all tho broken 'windows and dead cats about the town, but they had not realised the danger they were creating. "The parents and storekeepers," .snid Mr Lcvvey. "must take this as a first and final "warning that they must not put these guns into the hands of children under 16 years of age. Very heavy penalties are provided for such breaches. As far as these boys are concerned, I do not want to put a black mark against them, so I shall admonish, and discharge them. They will be punished by the forfeiture of the guns as provided for by the law." "Attention to the fact that a fowl had suffered an untimely demise as the result of the boys' activities was directed by the senior-sergeant, and Mr Coleman undertook to see "that reparations to the extent of 5s were made for this loss.