A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7239, 28 October 1901, Page 2

A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

CONVICTED OF THEFT. Robert Green, a boy of fourteen, waa charged before Mr Scott, J.P., 'Mr Skog, J.P., and Mr Lawrence, J.P., this morning, with having stolen a cheque for £7 8s and postal orders to the amount of £1 4s Bd, the property of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co. He pleaded guilty. Mr Donnelly, who appeared for accused, said that the boy had been employed by Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., and had stolen some letters containing the cheque and postal orders. The cheque had been destroyed, and the lad's father would make restitution of the remainder. Mr. Donnelly pointed out that it was a popular mistake to suppose that probation could not be granted if there was more than one_gffence. The Supreme Court had granted probation in a case where a youth of seventeen was charged with having stolen two sums oi money from his employer with an interval between, and in other cases where there were aggravated circumstances such as breaking and entering. Whatever was said about the danger of contamination in gaol being exaggerated, the fact remained that ones a boy had served a term in gaol, he was well started on the downward course. The terror of gaol was gone for him, and with it the great deterrent to crime. Mr Donnelly had personally seriously warped the accused making a bad use of any leniency granted him, and hft would ask the Bench not to send such S young offender to gaol. The boy's father appeared, and stated that, his son had previously been of good character. The Bench pointed out to the accused the seriousness of his offenole, and warned him that if he again appeared in Court the present case would be brought lip against him. Accused would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within the next six months.