YIELDED TO TEMPTATION

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 7

YIELDED TO TEMPTATION

EDUCATED YOUTH’S ACT. STOLE TOBACCONIST'S CASH BOX. DESIRED TO GO ON FARM. A well-dressed, well-educated and good-looking lad of 17, who was stated to have had a college education and to have matriculated, pleaded guilty before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at Hamilton, to-day, io the theft of a cash box and contents, valued £26, from a tobacconist’s shop at Frankton. In a statement given to Constable McLeod, accused said he left home in October last in consequence of a difference with his parents. He decided to strike out for himself and went to work on a farm at Tirau. While in a tobacconist’s shop at Frankton one day, he noticed w'here the tobacconist placed his cash-box. He yielded to a sudden temptation to take it. With portion of the contents he purchased a box of cigars, a bottle whiskey and a bottle of beer, and hired a taxi to take him to his lodgings in Hamilton.

llis Worship: How did he manage to obtain the liquor? He is obviously a boy. Mr E. Cox, in pleading on accused’s behalf said the boy’s parents were highly respectable. Accused had had a college education and had matriculated. He was studying for anotiier examination for the civil service and his parents’ intention was that he should take a position in the city. Accused, however, wanted to go, on a farm. This was the hone of contention which caused him to leave home. He got a job on a farm at Tirau, where he had to rise at 4 a.m. and did not get his tea until 8.30 p.m. He had to assist in the milking of SO cows, to feed the calves, clean up the sheds, to plough and fence and to assist with the haymaking for which he received 30s a week.

His Worship: That will have cured him of a desire to go farming I suppose? (Laughter).

Mr Cox added that the boy stuck at his job for a month. He then ricked his back while ploughing and came to Hajnilton to have it seen to. It was whilst here that he yielded to the temptation to steal this cash box. His Worship said that if accused had been a little younger he would have 'heen tried before the children's court. For that reason His Worship said he would treat him leniently, and, in order to give him an opportunity to live his offence down, he would suppress his name. His Worship did not think the public required to be warned against accused. In admitting accused to two years’ probation, His Worship imposed the special conditions that restitution of the amount not recovered be made; that he abstain absolutely from alcohol and that he be not found on licensed premises; further, that he reside in his parents’ house during that period of probation, or in such home as was approved by his father.