ELEVEN BOYS FACE CHARGES OF MISCHIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 9

ELEVEN BOYS FACE CHARGES OF MISCHIEF.

EIGHT DAMAGED STACK, ONE BURNT FENCE, AND TWO SHOT PIGEON. Eight boys, their ages ranging between fourteen and eleven years, were ushered into the Children’s Court this morning at the same time, and jointly charged with mischief, in that they wilfully damaged a haystack. Mr 11. P. Lawry, SAL, and Mr W. M West, J.P., were on the Bench. The police said that the boys had been continually playing round a haystack, and they had torn some sheets of iron off the stack, and scattered the straw around. The owner did not name the amount of the damage, and wanted no compensation, but an assur ance that the offence would not be repeated. One by one the boys were talked to by the Magistrate, who also had a word with those parents who attended the Court. Two of the boys were committed to the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer, and the rest were admonished and discharged. Shot a Pigeon. Two other boys appeared on a different mischief charge, in that they shot a pigeon with an air rifle. The boys declared that they did not aim at the pigeon, which was hit by mistake. “ Well, this will serve to show you that such conduct is very far from desirable,” said the Magistrate, in admonishing and discharging the boys. Another Charge. A boy who admitted damaging a fence to the extent of £5, by setting fire to a nearby bush, which ignited the fence, was committed to the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer.