THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 24 November 1930, Page 6

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. SATURDAY, re Mr 11. A. Young, ii.il.) CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. Fredoiick William Zimmerman, a threshing mill proprietor (Mr W. J. Hunter), claimed irom Thomas Pholoung, a contractor (M/ W. F. TracjO, the sum of £lll 4a as damages lor an alleged breach of contract, and X-o, the price of a driving belt for a traction engine. The cuse was opened last Tucsdav, and adjourned to Saturday. Judgment was given for tlxe olajntiff ior £5 and coats. CHILDREN'S CUUUT. (Before Mr K. D, iloalcy, 5.M.., Mr W. West, J.P., and Mrs T. E. Taylor, J.P.) CYCLING OFFENCES. Two young: boys were charged woparately w:th cycling on the footpath t.nd cycling at night without a light. They were both admonished and discharged. Another boy, alsu charged with cycling on the footpath, v. as ordered to pay 2s 6d to tho Court. ENTERED EMPTY HOUSE. A small girl was charged with stealing a j number of electric light bulbs, some curtains, and a lamp-shade, ot a total value of .£1 i 45 6d. Police evidence staled that accuacd entered an unoccupied house in Bealey avenue in company'with some other children and helped to icmove the articlos. The child was placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer ror a period of three years. FOUR GIRLS CHARGED. Un many various charges of theft, tour g:iJe, whos® ages ranged from 13 to I<> vcars, appeared before the Court. Three of them wero charged with being concerned in tha theft of fourteen handbags and their contents, aitd other email articles, vhile the fourth girl was concerned in misappropriation of a bicycle. Detective-Sergeant E. F. O'Brien said that the three girls had been working conjointly at stealing th© purses of patrons of a local skating rink. Altogether they had taken about fourteen bags, of which seven had been recovered by tho police. One of tho gills was also charged with stealing a bicycle. This last girl told the Court that 6he had only borrowed the bicycle. She had thought it was her auntie's. A statement made by another of the girls was read. She admitted taking a bicyclo and keeping it. One of her friends had aided her in this. Mr Mo3ley: "I suppose the be3t thing we can do is to older each o? you a thrashing." The Detective-Sergeant suggested that the girla be ordered to keep out of places o/ amusement in the future. Speaking to the parents of accused, Mr Mosley said that they were to blame for all the trouble. "If I had my way, I would punish you rather than they," he caid. In answer to a question, on© of he girls told tho Court that they had spent the money they had obtainea on skating. The» Court's decision was that the three girls ghould be committed to the care of the State until they were 21 years of age, and the other child be placed under supervision for three years. The stolen property was to be returned. STOLE VALUABLE PIGEONS. Two brothers, one aged 14 and the other 11, were charged that, on October 31st, they did steal six pigeons, value at £lO 15s Detective-Sergeant O'Brien said that the beys stole the bird® and told their mother afterwards that they had been given them by another boy. The bore pl««l ttnder the Buperviston of the Child Welfare Officer £o r Two years. BOY CHARGED WITH THEFT. A boy aged It was charged with btoalins a> iountaln pen from a citv office. Ho vas represnnted by Mr E. S. Bowie. A statement the boy had made to thfl police was rcaxl In it he ad muted the theft, and said that he had bold the pen to another boy. Mr Bowie Raid that he had examined accused thoroughly and had been aßß u r ed that it was only because he had been told that he would go to the Borstal that be I has! made the statement j„ ml;t ho h-,d not stolen the pen, b ut had found it. He hadl mado up the gtory, because he was «> V* i'.i, not do as the police | to.d him then hi« father would lose bio job.

The boy told Mr Mosley that hj« bad j found the pen on the grass. Detective-Sergeant O'Brion assured the Court that tha boy had a bad reputation. Accused waa committed to ihe care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare. Mr Bowie was told that a conviction for theft would no- be entered against the boy. i i