JUVENILE COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20043, 4 September 1920, Page 8

JUVENILE COURT.

A BROKEN WINDOW AND A SMILING, WITNESS. The hill majesty of the kw was in evidence to-day at a sitting; of the Juvenile Court, when one Stipendiary Magistrate, a Sub-Inspector of Police, two solicitors, one cleric of the Court', one Court constable, one Education Department official, one clergyman, two fathers, with mothers and neighbours, attended proceedings to decide who really broke a washhouse window, at 18, Airedale Place, the residence of A. M. Taylor. A girl aged twelve years, and a lad of fourteen vears, wore charged by the police with the offence, but each denied guilt, and ascribed it to the other. Mr George Harper appeared for the boy. and Mr Hunter for the girl. Sub-Insnector Dew prosecuted, and Mr S. E M’Carthy, S.M., was the presiding Macerate. A little girl witness, whose contimi., ous smiling hinted at her own idea of \ the proceedings, unfolded the dramatic story. She described how the girl accused was sitting on a fence of the backyard, where the bov and she (the witness) were playing. The boy gazed at the girl, on the fence, who inquired at whom lie was staring, and invited him to stare again. The witness alloged that the other p,irl then threw three stones at the boy, but as j s not unusual with feminine aims, the target thrown at was unhurt, and one stone hit tho window instead. Crossexamination by tlie solicitors failed to shake Jier testimony, or banish her smiles. Mr M Cartliy said that tho two accused had nothing to answci. Tho Act said that the damage must bo wilful, and if the evidence given was correct, the breaking of tho window had been accidental. Sub-Inspector Dew said that the proceedings had been taken to impress the children of the danger of throwing stones. Mr M’Carthv confessed that in years gone by be had thrown stones. He dismissed the case, adding that a remedy could bo sought by tbo owner of the broken window in the civil Court. TAKING A NOTE. An eleven-years-old boy was charged with the theft of £1 note from a. dwelling house. Snb-Tnspoetor Dow said that the lad, when accosted by tlio constable, admitted the offence, and banded hack 6s fid, all that was left of the money. Tho bov had been in trouble before, and his mother was willing that ho should be committed to an industrial school. The mother said that her son was a fairly good boy. , M" M’Carthy said he thought the lad had hotter be committed to the Receiving Home. He made an order to that effect, the lad to he brought up in the Roman Catholic religion. "A VERY GOOD BOY.” A fifteen-year-old boy, who was described by the Rev P. Carrington ns “a very good boy,” was charged with stealing various sums between August 6 and 31. amounting to £1 18s lOd. Chief-Detective M’llveney said that tho lad urns employed in the warehouse of the Cycle and Motor Supplies Company, Ltd., and had taken the money from the cash-box in the office. Mr M’Cnrtby convicted (bo accused and ordered him to come up for sentence .when called upon. He is t 0 report once weekly to Mr Carrington. 1