CHILDREN’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 20202, 13 June 1927, Page 5

CHILDREN’S COURT

CONVERSION OF BICYCLES. TWO OTHER CASES. Two girls, aged 154 and 15 years respectively, appeared in the Children’s Court on Saturday, charged with converting bicycles to their own use. Sergeant Fox stated that the facts roughly were that two sisters attended Mass in the Catholic Church in Tyne street. They left their bicycles outside, and on their return found that the machines were missing. Both cycles were subsequently found and returned, and the girls charged admitted having taken them. This type of offence was becoming quite common and the Police had received a number of complaints about bicycles being taken, both from the Catholic Church and from St. John’s Church. One of the girls, added the Sergeant, had been an associate to a certain extent with the girls who had been sent away recently. The Police did not want them punished, but merely kept under proper control. The case was adjourned for 12 months, the girls to be under the supervision of the Probation Officer. They were also ordered to pay 15/6 damages. RABBITER CHARGED. An adult, represented by Mr Gordon Reed, was charged with the theft of rabbitskins and nets valued at 16/6; with using indecent language, and assaulting a boy of 12. Accused pleaded not guilty to each charge. A boy of 12 gave evidence that on April 19, in company with two other boys, he had been rabbiting at Kennington with dogs and ferrets. They caught eight rabbits on one property and then began to ferret on the road. A rabbit ran into a nearby property over which accused had the rabbiting rights. When they went after the rabbit they were chased by a man with a stick. They ran up the road, where the man caught them and took the bag of skins which witness was carrying. Accused used bad language. Witness had never said that he stole the nets. To Mr Reed: Accused touched witness, but did not hurt him. A boy, aged 15, residing at Waikiwi, gave evidence along similar lines. In crossexamination he said that he had been chased off the property on previous occasions by the accused. * Evidence was also given by a boy aged 12 and by Constable Matthews. The accused stated that he had permission to keep trespassers off the properties over which he had the rabbiting rights. He had been subjected to a great deal of annoyance and inconvenience by the boys. Frequently trapped rabbits were carried away or damaged by dogs belonging to the boys. On one occasion he had lost eleven traps. Three times in the week prior to the alleged offences he had warned the boys off the farm and had threatened to confiscate any rabbits which they took in the future. Witness denied ever having used the bad language complained of and denied having taken any rabbit nets. A farmer at Waimatua, said that on several occasions he had had to put the boys off his property. On the day on which accused was supposed to have assaulted one of the boys he had had to chase the boys off his own preperty. A Kennington resident described the boys as a nuisance. He did not want his stock to be disturbed by a pack of dogs. The Magistrate said that he did not think the assault charge could be sustained. He could not see, however, that accused had any justification for taking the rabbits, as there was nothing to show that they had been taken off accused’s block. It seemed a rather high-handed action. The charge would be dismissed as trifling. He could understand that the boys would be a great nuisance. The three charges were dismissed. A further charge of having assaulted the father of one of the boys was withdrawn as the complainant had left New Zealand. ABSCONDER CHARGED. A boy aged 16, charged with being deemed an idle and disorderly person, was ordered to be returned to the Industrial School from which he had escaped.