THE STONE-THROWING NUISANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12475, 12 September 1904, Page 4

THE STONE-THROWING NUISANCE.

MISCHIEF IN A GRAVEYARD.

On Saturday morning the Stipendiary Magistrate had brought before him by Sergeant Warring, half a dozen 'boys ranging rom 9 to 16 years in age, charged with jiischievous stone-throwing in Beacdnsfield ;l.urchyard. Two of them, aged 9 and 14; were charged with wilful damage to property, on Sunday, August 17th, by 'jreaking a marble headstone that had est £6.

.- The elder of the two pleaded guilty, the vovnger admitted feat he threw one stone, but denied that he hit the gravestone, ihere was no other evidence than that of he two lads. The elder admitted that he hit and broke the stone, but asserted ■hat the younger also hit it. He had •previously said that the younger boy racked the stone, and he finished it; but he said he did not know whether his.companion-had injured the stone. In reply to His Worship, the boys said hey went early to Sunday School, and while waiting for school to open they n.mused themselves by throwing stones at 'he gravestones. The elder, who threw first, admitted that he knew he was doing wrong, and he was now sorry for it. His Worship pointed out, and tried to impress upon the lads, how disgraceful a thing it was to injure memorials that had been erected by the friends of the dead. Mr B. Evans, owner of the broken stone, said- he had taken Mr Mcßride's opinion about it, and that was that the stooe could not be satisfactorily repaired. The fathers of the lads came forward, ind said they would see that the stone was replaced by another. One of them said he had a" mason's estimate for it ■it £4 10s.

The father; of the elder said he had not yet punished his boy; he was waiting 'or the result of these proceedings; the other said he had threshed his boys (a. -econd was concerned in another offence) 'or the first time.in their lives.

His Worship said he could only convict he boys and order them to come up for -entence when called upon. He toped it <vould be a warning to-.them, and the parents would be expected to make good '■ he damage done. Five lads, belonging to four families, and "rom 12 to 16 years old, were then charged with throwing stones to the damage of a headstone, on July 31st. Three of them pleaded guilty and two not guilty. In this case -the circumstances were somewhat similar; the boys were waiting for '•'unday school, and one of them placed a tin on a headstone belonging to Mr James Bell, and in throwing at it several stones hit the marble slab and chipped it. The owner did not make any claim for the damage done. His Worship stopped inquiry into the details, and the. contradictions that were ?o be expected, saying he would only caution the boys this time. He gave them \ lecture on their conduct, and the disgrace of being brought before the Court, ind hoped this would be a warning to •ttem to avoid indulging in such mischief >n future.