BAD BOYS BIRCHED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2671, 29 November 1909, Page 6

BAD BOYS BIRCHED.

THEFTS FROM GISBORNE HOUSES

As a sequel to a,/ series of minor de>pred'ations that took place last week in the neighborhood of Stout Street and Aberdeen Road four small boys of ages varying from 13£ to 9 were brought before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M. in the Children’s Court on Saturday, charged with breaking and entering and theft. On the application of Sergeant Hutton the charge was altered to one of common theft. The boys, who represented two families, and were accompanied by their parents, pleaded guilty. The Sergeant stated that two of the brothers had entered the house of a Mr Ren wick and stolen- some- jewellery, while the other two had taken some, keys and a padlock from the premises of a Mr Gavin.' This., happened last

Wednesday afternoon. The boys were not together, but evidently knew of each other’s doings. -

His Worship: It is very necessary that something should be done to stop this sort of thing. There are three courses open. One is to send the elder lads to prison, the other to send them to an industrial school, and the third to order them to be whipped. I think the last course is the best. ' . .

The eldest boy was ordered to receive 8 strokes with the birch, and the two next whose ages were 11 and 10-J-, were awarded half a dozen strokes. The youngest was admonished and discharged.