MISCHEVIOUS BOYS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 January 1932, Page 4

MISCHEVIOUS BOYS

THEFT AND DAMAGE.

LEADER SENT TO BORSTAL.

For some months past the Masterton police have had a particularly busy time in the investigation of offences Avhieh have subsequently been traced as the acts of boys. Some of the -offences have been of a minor nature, but, at the same time, the rather unplea-sant-fact is revealed that many Avero of a really serious nature. In the latter category Avere the charges preferred against fi\ r e boys avlio appeared in the Children’s Court and dealt with by Mr. J. Miller, S.M., this morning.

Four of the boys Avere inx-olx'ed in charges of theft and miscliiefpAvhile the fifth Avas charged xv.itli the rather serious offence of assaulting a little girl 7 years of age. The boy inx-oh-ed in the latter case XA r as also the recognised . ring-leader of the boys charged xvith thef and mischief. He xvas committed to the care of the Child Welfare Superintendent to be sent on to a Borstal institution. The other three lads were placed under the supervision of the District Child Welfare Officer for a .period of tAvo years. “If much of this goes on the Court Avill have to take a hand and.order a whipping,” said Mr Miller, aa’lio observed that there xvould not be so many of these offences if there Avere no ringleaders.

It was stated that two of the boya had entered the London Pie. Shop and had 'gone behind thei counter, stegliug a bottle of ginger ale each proprietor was engaged at the back of tlie shop. On Christmas Eve four of the boys clambered through the open window of a house in Trustee Street, which had just been taken possession of by Alfred W. Anstis. There they damaged two suit cases and threw provisions about the house. On another occasion they entered the ice cream store - ™ of Peter Johansen’s confectioner}' store in Queen Street. There they put salt into a quantity of cream and stole boxes of ice-cream cones. At the house of Mr. Anstis gas mantles, cakes of toilet soap, condensed milk-were among the articles stolen.