YOUTHFUL THIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17039, 12 May 1923, Page 1

YOUTHFUL THIEF.

TAMPERS WITH FIRM’S CORRESPONDENCE. ACCOUNT RECORDS UPSET. A bright-looking lad of fourteen years of age was charged before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., with having stolen from A. J. “White and Co. on March 27 last the sum of £5, and on May 3 the sum of ‘£6. Detecitive| Donnolly sajid that the accused had entered the service of A. J. White and Co. during January last. Part of his duties consisted in the dis patch and collection of the firm’s let tors and general correspondence. On Mav 4 the firm’s secretary became sus picious that the correspondence! was being tampered with, and lie inter viewed the boy, who admitted opening letters and extracting - cheques an 1 cash. The extractions were of an ex tensive character, and the firm had been occasioned much inconvenience. 1l did not appear that any of the cheques had been cashed. The boy lived with his grandmother, a very old lady, and the trouble seemed to oe due to want of home control. Father Roache had stated his willingness to take charge of the lad, place him in a home, and have him well looked after for two years. The boy had given assist a'nce to clear matters uip, but cheques seemed to have been scattered about without any idea of tlieir value from any point of view, and the in convenience caused to the firm was surprisingly great. The Magistrate: I have a report of the case. The boy seems to be smait and of good education. Mr Bissett, probation officer, states that a strange part of the affair is that a large pact of the stolen money has gone in buy ing books of a class not by any means associated with that of the trashy order. The report also shows that some ot the money has been spent on clothes, and some, I regret to say. on buying lollies and in attending pi.; tures. 'The circumstances point clearly to a lack of home control. The bov does not appear to have realised the seriousness of what he lias done until the last day or two.

Father Roache gave evidence as to the boy having a good school record. He offered to take charge of him an 1 have him placed in a home under good supervision.

Jn answer to the Magistrate, M' O’Connell, secretary for A. J. White and Co., said that apart from the stealing of the money the firm had been caused considerable inconvenience, an i i J would be some time before matters could be straightened out. The affair even went so far as to cause the hold ing up of the ordinary monthly state Vnents, and letters we£re continually being received from clients as a result of the loss of cheques. The cheques seemed to have been cast about at random, and had been found lying about in different parts of the boy’s home, and even in the lavatory. JL; produced a registered letter which had been found opened and the contents extracted. The lad was smart and lie thought the trouble was due to lack of home control. After deliberation the Magistrate said that he would adjourn tlie casj until June 9. The boy in the mean time would remain under the care ci Father Roache. In that time, also, everything in connection with the affair would require to be squared up and a report presented to him, following which he would decide as to the boy’s future.