NIPPED IN THE BUD.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16424, 18 January 1919, Page 2

NIPPED IN THE BUD.

A THEFT AND EXCHANGE SYSTEM. Tho beginning of "what might easily , have -grown to a widespread- system of thcffc auci exchange among young mctt ' employed iu shops ill Auckland, was exposed by tho arrest by plaiu-clothes Constable Lambert, of four lads, who cam© before Mr J. E. Wilson, S.M., ott ' , Wednesday, on charges of theft and •receiving (says tho "Star"). One lad in a hardware shop had stolen a revolver and cartridges which he had exchanged for a safety razor from a friend who worked 1 in anothor hardware shop. This latter lad had stolen two razors and a box of cartridges from his employer's shelves, and •had passed on one of the razors, the 1 cartridges, and the revolver ho got from the first-mentioned lad, to a third friend who returned the compliment with a shirt, a tie, and a tie-pin of attractive pattern at his employer's oxpense. A fourth lad of tho ooterie / was not in employment during this par- 1 [ ticular -period of a month passed, but 1 he benefited by the thefts to the extent ! of fhe revolver, which had thus passed through three hands, and a panama hat, which had been dishonestly obtained by his soft goods friend. _ . The four lads were just on sixteen years of age, and the three who had dishonestly levied on their employers' goods bore excellent characters, and their respective employers were so satisfied that the theft"? \sore but a." temporary aberration, not likely to recur, tl'at they had decided to keep the boys in their situations. These lads were put on probation for two yoars. ' The ether one had committed a misdemeanour soino years ago, and was convicted and ordered "to como up for tentence when called on.