“ PENNY DREADFULS. ”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2760, 8 February 1910, Page 2

“ PENNY DREADFULS. ”

THEIR PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE

BOY BURGLARS AND THEIR IMAGINARY* HEROES.

Maurice Edward Pointcm and Joseph llaughey, the two lads who wore arrested under arms afc Happy Valley by Detectico Cassells and Constable Pearce, on thirteen charges of breaking and entering and theft, to which they subsequently pleaded guilty, were, brought before Mr. Justice Chapman for sentence, in tho Supreme Court, Wellington, on Wednesday last. Mr. '.l'. M. Wilford, who appeared on behalf of the lads, said that the case was a difficult one to understand, ft was hard to find a reason for the lads’ action. It was usual in such cases to try to arrive at the reason for wrong-doing. First of all one had to examine the case for evidences of taint through heredity or environment. This counsel had done, but he had found nothing, ancl both these possible causes must therefore be eliminated from the present case. Th e -i crimes with which the prisoners at the bar wore charged had all been committed before, either of the lads was sixteen years of age, so that they must have boon influenced by something in their commission of the offences with which they were charged. What had really influenced them was the reading of “penny-dreadfuls.” Failing to account otherwise for the boys’ actions, lie had asked Pointon’s mother to make a search with a view to finding what the lad ivas in the habit of reading, with the result that under his bod was found the volume counsel now held in his hand —“Fresh, and the Card-sharpers,” a two-penny booklet belonging to the “Aldine O’er Land and Sea Series.” One had to read only a lew pages of this production to see that it gave the history of crimes—in fact, almost glorified crime. On page 64 are described the crimes of highway robbery, liurgflary, and theft, in a way that must influence the minds of boys. In one place a criminal was told that “the chances are great that you will go to the stone jog for a good long term of years.” The “stone jug,” lie presumed, meaning prison. It was this kind of thing that had been filling the minds of these boys before they had set out to commit a series of crimes.

On the covers of tho book, Mr. Wilford continued, was an advertisement of other hooks boys were strongly advised to roaTT. They belonged to the “Aldine First-Rate Library,” and were published at Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. London. These books all bore sounding titles, of which the following aiv fair specimens:—-“Kent Ivirbv, the High-kicker from Killbuck, or the Roster of Rogue River Ranch,” “Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard, or the Camp Spiders of R'aggod Robin,” “Missouri Joe, the White Terror, or the Scourge of the Laramje.” There could be no question as to the effect of such literature at this on the mind of a sensitive bov.

The boy Pointon had always previously been a well-behaved lad, and his employer was prepared to state that he had always been an industrious and regular worker. Haughey also had a good character. The trouble was that the hoys had not been caught in their first escapade. With their minds full of the stuff they had been reading, they went out on th<>. war-path, armed to the teeth like their heroes ill the books, and they succeeded. Had they been apprehended the first time they would have realised their position. They had found it an easy task to get round the back of premises, force open a window, and enter, and with a diamond to cut glass they could go almost anywhere. They then collected ry large amount of “loot” at Happy Valley, where they, no doubt, looked upon themselves as some glorious kind of desperadoes such as they read about. Every escape- had added to their conceit. The publication of the news in tlie papers that another building bad been looted would spur them on to further acts of crime. The choice of a punishment to fit the crime was in His Honor’s hands, who would have to say what was the best thing that could be done for the State and for the boys themselves. Mr. M. Myers, 'Crown Prosecutor, said it had' been difficult to ascertain what kind of control had been exercised over the boys by their parents. In both cases there) had been a warning both to the boy and his parents of his tendency to wrong-doing. In August, 1003, Pointon had broken and entered premises, and had .received eight strokes of tlm birch. This should have been ample warning. His Honor: That was in Napier. Was his father there then 'r Mr. Wilford: I suggest, your Honor, that I put the fathers in the box.

. His Honor : We may in a moment. I just want to know whether lie lived with ]iis father them. Mr. Wilfnrd: Ho did. Mr. divers continued that no record could bo .found in the register of Haughev’s birth. In 1904, ho had stolen ten bottles of ink, and was convicted and discharged. This should have been a warning in his ease. His Honor: They might have been warned also th 0 . last time 1 had boys before me for similar oneness at Island Bav.

Mr. Willord then called Edward Pointon, butcher, father of one of the lads, wlio said that his son had always been a good hoy. He went to his work regularly, and the onb- reason the witness could give for his late conduct was that he had been reading bad books. He never used to go out at night. He had left home on January 6th, and they had hoard ho was going to Sydney. His mother went to the Union Company’s office and told them not to issue a ticket, as lip. was under ago. They then heard that he had gone to Palmerston to work. Frederick Hawley, the lad’s employer, said that Pointon had been with him for two years, and was a good and attentive worker. He had never lost a dav until Christmas time.

Charles Haugliey, father of the other lad, a plasterer by trade, said that his son was fourteen, years of age. The last time he was in trouble was five years ago, when he was nine. He. had been a regular attendant at school, and held a proficiency certificate when he loft. He was a constant reader of nennv books, of which he brought home half a dozen at a time. When lie left home a few days after the New Year lie took most of the books with him, and the witness himself had destroyed a goodly number. When he disappeared the witness made some efforts to find him. but did not inform the police, and tbo first ho hoard of the lad’s whereabouts was when he heard of the arrest.

His Honor said lip. would consider what was best to be done with the lads. He would inform the. registrar when he was ready to deal with them.