Juvenile Offenders.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 649, 20 August 1891, Page 2

Juvenile Offenders.

At the Police Court on Tuesday morning, before Mr Booth, Samu’l Parsons, q, boy of about 10, was charged with the larceny of a cheque valued at a penny. He had taken a cheque from Messrs Clayton and Sawyer's cheque book, and made a slovenly attempt to convert it into £4 10s cash. Mr Jones appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. Mr Jones, in extenuation of the offence, said the youth had when about five years of age, been affected by a sunstroke, which had left him weakminded. While it would be thought a boy of his age would be striving to achieve some definite purpose in life, his great joy was to play marbles with children. Messrs Bollock and Fraser were called as witnesses. They both spoke highly qf foe boy's general character, but said that he acted queorly at time?. Mr Fraser sgld the boy might bo quite rational fqr a period, and could do anything entrusted to him in a satisfactory manner, but at other times he would take a strange turn. i[r Booth said he supposed it waa on aocounj of the boy’s mind that the more serious Charge had not been laid. Sergeant Carlyon aald he did net think there had even been an attempt 'to obtain the money—it was a most foolish thing all through, and seemed to be a piece of idiocy. Mr Jones said it would only harden the boy by sending him to prison. Mr Booth sajd for tliat reason he regretted he oould not have the lad whipped, but he was too old for th»t. Addressing’ the boy His Worship asked sternly; What made you go and do this P—Reply i I don't know. —You don't know what you did it for ?— No, sir.—Haven't you anything to say for yourself; I can scud you to prison for a jong time for this, and it will be a disgrace

a nd shame to yourself and parents. A young fellow like you to be brought up for stealing I —haven’t you anything to say for yourself ? (No answer ) Mr Booth said that the danger of a boy like this was that some smart, unscrupulous boy might make use of him. Mr Jones said that was his misfortune. Mr Booth said he might deal with the case under the section which al lowed six months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £2O. Mr Jones pointed out that the parents were in poor circumstances, and a heavy fine would really mean imprisonment. Mr Booth thought they could pay such a fine as he would inflict, a pound; in default, seven days’ imprisonment. Mr Jones said he thought the parents could pay that. His Worehip then gave the boy a severe lecture, and a warning of what might happen if this sort of thing occurred again. Two native boys, under IS, pleaded guilty to stealing £8 9a 6d, from Mr R. Nock’s house at Waiohika. Finding Mr Nook absent from home, they had deliberately ransacked his things. They elected to be dealt with summarily, and were sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment, to be made to work, and to be kept apart from the other prisoners.