PICTURES AND CRIME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 963, 13 March 1917, Page 9

PICTURES AND CRIME.

BOYS EMULATE BUSHRANGERS. Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 12. Emulation of a gang of desperadoes, as portrayed at one of the local picture houses, resulted in a boy aged 15 appearing in the Juvenile Court charged with the theft of a gun and a revolver, and a quantity of ammunition valued at £B. According to the police, the lad secured a mask and made his way at night to the rear of the gunsmith's shop in Queen Street. He climbed round by a rain-water pipe, and, having broken a skylight, entered the shop, where he secured the weapons. The boy then set off for the Waitakere Ranges. After firing 12/worth of ammunition he threw the £Uin into a creek. The Chief Detective said the lad received an unfortunate inspiration from Ihe pictures, which detailed the doings of masked bushrangers. His mother was dead, and his father, who was going to Ihe front, had left him with relatives, who apparently could not control him. The juvenile probation officer said Ihe father held rather strong views regarding pictures of the character mentioned. The Magistrate: -I feel just as strongly; but what can I do? The lad was committed to the Wcraroa Training Farm and the father ordered to pay the value of the ammunition used. Another lad aged l(i, in no way known to Ihe First boy, was charged with stealing from the same shop, on the same night, a rifle, a razor, a gun-cleaner, a revolver, a packet of razor blades, and other small articles, of Ihe total value of £5. The Chief Detective said the lad, while employed by the owner of the shop, removed Ihe goods, and the same night returned and took them away. He was one of the greatest actors, and the most untruthful lad lie (Ihe Chief Detective) had met in his lengthy police experience. He was living with elderly people, and seemed to think he could do as he liked. All Ihe articles had been recovered with the exception of 2/worth of ammunition. The lad was committed to Wcraroa.