"TOO CLEVER."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11217, 24 October 1914, Page 7

"TOO CLEVER."

A YOUTHFUL THIEF. SPENT MOHEY LIKE WILDFIRE. AMAZING CASE !N COURT. At a sitting of the Juvenile Court this morning, a boy aged 11 appeared in answer to a charge of stealing two ten pound notes from his mother on October 12. Mr H. W. Bishop was on the Bench. The case presented truly amazing propensities on the part of the youthful offender. He spent money like wildfire on taxi rides, and was also prodigal with sweets, and picture shows, while his purchase of a quantity of soft drinks, which he ordered to be sent to a Tuam Street fruiterer, must have mightily surprised the occupant of the shop wlien they arrived. Detective Torrance said that the boy admitted stealing the money, and he had obtained a full statement of it from him, and also of the manner in which it had been spent; The mother had no control over the boy, while the father was a drunken waster. Some shbrt time ago he received £3OO compensation through an accident to his hand, and of this amount £7O was carried by his wife loose in a handbag. She did not exercise any care in looking after it, and was in the habit of leaving the bag in any portion cf the house. The total amount stolen by the boy was £3O. He spent £2 )0s 7d in odds and ends, lost one ten pound note, and spent the rest in driving about in taxi-cabs. He could only remember the name of one taxi driver, and if the boy's statement were true, the driver, Adoock, must have known that the money was dishonestly obtained. The boy in his sworn statement said "that about a month ago he stole a ten pound note from his mother's handbag. He went to a. grocer's shop and bought .a dozen eggs, tendering the ten pound note in payment. He jreceived nine single notes, a halfBovereign, and nine shillings in silver change. He spent £9 in driving about in taxis, and the 19s in lollies, theatres and pictures. On October 12 he went to his mother's room and took her handbag from under her pillow. He opened the bag and took two ten pound notes out. " The same morning he went to an aerated water factory and ordered three jars of ginger beer, two jars of hop ale, three jars of Kola, and two jars of clarade. He told the man in charge to send them to a fruiterer's shop in Tuam Street. They came to 13s 4d, and from a ten pound note he ; received £6 10s in gold, and £2,16s 9d in silver. Out of the amount he spent 6s 9d in lollies, 17s 6d in buying a scallywag set, and the rest m taxi rides. He had 17s 6d in silver, and the other 10s was planted round by Dr" Crook's house. On going to look.for it he found it missing, but the silver was there. The only money he gave away was 6d to each of two boys.

From the driver of the taxi, Ernest Adcock, Detective Torrance obtained a • sworn statement, which ' was shown the boy. Mr Bishop (to the Chief Detective): YoU had better show that to the city Council authorities. If the boy's statement is true that man shouldn't have a license.

Adcock's statement was to the effect that about a month ago, w'&itn the'camp was at Sockburn, the -:«iy eaine to. a garage in Tuam Street, wh,ere Adcock kept his car, and asked if he.could get a car. Asked what he wanted it for, he said that he wanted to go.to the camp. Adcock drove him out and received 5s for the trip. About two days later 'the boy came again to the garage and said that he wanted to go to Brighton. Adcock said that he couldn't drive him there. The boy replied that he would pay for

it, as lie had plenty of money. Questioned as to where ho obtained the money, tho boy replied that he was on the training ship" Amokura, and had just had a pay. Adcock drove him to New Brighton, and on tho way questioned him about the boat. He mentioned the names of different officers on the boat, and from his answers satisfied Adcock that he was off the training ship Amokura. Oil returning from Brighton he received 10s for the trip. On or about this date other taxi drivers were driving him about, but he did not notice who they were. On Monday, October 12, the boy went to tho garage about 10.30 a.m. and asked to be driven to Sumner. Adcock drove him there, where they were met by a woman and three children, to whom the boy talked for some time. He told Adcock the woman was his aunt and asked liim to wait as he wanted to have dinner with them. The taxi driver waited and the boy came bock with a little girl and took her for a ride along the road, not far from the Sumner beach. On the way back from Sumner. Adcock questioned the- - boy about the money, as lie seemed to have a fair amount. He said he showed his aunt all the money lie 5 had, and if he bad no right- to it he would not have showed it to her. On the way back from Sumner tho boy wanted to go somewhere else and asked how much it would be to go to Lyttelton. Adcock said: " You don't want to go there." The boy said: " Yes, I do; I "want to see someone over there. Adcock said: "It will cost you £2." The boy said: " All right." They drove to Lyttelton and, came back to town. The trip to Sumner cost 14s and the trip to Lyttelton £2, making a total of £2 14s for the day. On Tuesday, October 13, he turned up at the garage again and asked to be driven to Leeston. On the way Adcock said he lost the road and pulled up at Sprmgston, where they had lunch. The boy did not want to go any further, so they returned, and Adcock dropped him at the hospital gates, receiving £3 5s _ for the'trip. He had not driven him since and he did not' see any ten pound notes in his possession. The total amount he received from the boy was £6 14s.

The Magistrate said that the woman was unfortunate in her marital relations and that explained the lack of control to a, certain extent. At the same time the boy must be controlled. He was an exceptionally smart youngster for eleven years old. The lies he had told and the ingenuity of them were something remarkable. If he had anything to do with his control he would give him a jolly good hiding. He would give him a, chance, but he wasn't sure then , that he was doing the right thing. The hoy was too clever. However, lie would convict • him and order him to come up for sentence when called upon, the boy to remain in _ charge of his mother under the supervision of the chief-detective. " " Take him away and give him _ a jolly good hiding," was _ the Magistrate's parting admonition to the mother.