HUMANITY V. MAJESTY AND JUSTICE.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 91, 6 April 1876, Page 5

HUMANITY V. MAJESTY AND JUSTICE.

TO THE EDIT6U. Sir,— An incident occurred in the Police Court to-day (Tuesday), which is worthy of notice in your columns. A youth, named Patrick Leary, was brought up before the presiding magistrates, R. Cramond, Esq., J. P., and J. M'Neil, Esq., J.P., charged with having taken the sum of lis 6rl out of a small box on the counter of Mr A. Mason, bootmaker's shop, Balclutha, on Monday last. Tt appeared from the evidence given by Sergeant Patrick Finnegan, that the accused, who was only thirteen years ©f age, went into the shop of Mr Mason with some small-job (repairs required for a boot), and whilst there another customer entered and paid an account. Mr Mason had to go out for change, and the boy •having previously espied a small hox on the ' counter in which Mr Mason kept some change, during his absf nc-) took the amount lis 6d out of the same. Their Worships having heard all. the particulars of the case, and having taken into consideration the extreme youth of the prisoner, acted with what may be termed a truly humane spirit, and dismissed theicaae upon the -understanding that he should be sent to a neighboring farmer who had taken great interest in the •case, and who had previously promised to watch over the boy, and if possible reclaim 'him from further vice. "I have no desire to comment upon 'the decision of any Justice of the Peace, but I think in the present instance their desire to give, the unfortunate boy a chance of boconfitig honesfc and thus retrieving himself from his bad habits, aud possibly worse , associates, is worthy of record, especially when we talce into consideration that they ;had the power to send hirri fora ' period to some reformatory. The course adopted may be the means of thoroughly reforming vthe •boy, wherea? the other might 'have hardened him in his sinful* ways.— l am, &c. ' ••.-■-.- Humanity. ;