SMALL MARAUDERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 9

SMALL MARAUDERS.

"PICTURE FIEND" & HIS FRIEND, HIS TASTE Itf BOOKS. Three prisoners, who liiwl pleaded cuilty to ofTonces in the Lower Court, were seutonced by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) ill the Supreme Court yestorday morning. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for tho Crown. James Leonard Lomax ond Travers Edward I'aget woro placed in tho dock together to be sentenced on a chargo of breaking and entering and theft at Ohakune. Lomax (for whom Mr. 11. O'Leary appeared) was a boy 16 years of age, and I'uget was also young. Mr. O'Leary pointed out that although there were previous convictions against Lomax tho lad was not fifteen when first before tho Court. Apparently he was not then dealt with in the Juvenile Court, but had been treated as an ordinary prisoner and nothing wns done to reform him. His father was a station manager and his mother was engaged in technical school work which necessitated lior absence from homo about four or five days in tile week. Lomax had at times worked for his father, and at other timos for other employers. His trouble appeared to be that ho had become a man physically whilo still retaining a boy's mind. His Honour: Is there anyone to take charge of him? I don't, want to send a boy of 1G to gaol. Mr. O'Leary answered that the boys own idea, was to go to sea. His Honour: Ho doesn't know what that is like or ho wouldn't want to go. Mr. O'Leary remarked that tho mother would take him to Feilding and endeavour to obtain a situation for him where lie would be under control. Paget, said counsel, had a revolver and false beard in his possession when arrested, but Lomax had not. His mother, however, had stated that lie was given to reading "Deadwood Dick" literature and ho himself had informed counsel that ho was a "picturo fiend" and delighted in pictures where revolvers were used.

Mr. Macassey, in answer to a question by his Honour, stated that the position appeared to bo that Lomax was out of control. Paget's father, who was a. labourer at Papakura, had said that he was unable to control his son. His Honour regretted that, as both lads wero over the ago at which they could bo committed to an industrial school, there was no intermediate institution. There ought to be such a place. It could' not do tnem any good to send them to gaol to mix -with older criminals. lie would order both of them to come up for sentence when called upon and they must understand that if either of them committed any offence whatever they would bo brought up again. The police would keep a watch orer them and if there was anything against them it would be no mere formal sentence to which they would be treated. They would bo sent, to gaol for a long time. Lomax would have to go to Feilding to his mother, and Paget should go straight to work. "What can you do?" aslrod his Honour of Pak'et. Prisoner: Anything, your Honour. His Honour: Anything! That generally means nothing. Finally his Honour advised Paget to interview Mr. Arnold. J.P. The latter might possibly bo able to obtain work for him at once.

PARROT STOLEN. TO GET EVEN WITH EMPLOYER. A seafaring man named Joseph Caulfield, was not represented by counsel when ho came before his Honour. His crimo was theft. 110 had stolon a valuable parrot from his employer and had sold _ it' for - ten shillings. There was a previous conviction against him for absenting himself ' from his ship without leave. Speaking on his own behalf, Caulfield declared that ho had been on 6hips since ho was a _ boy of 11. 110 had worked hard all his life, and had borne a good character. It was about three months ago that he came to New Zealand. His. employer had not paid him, and it was on that aocount that he took the parrot. His Honour remarked that it was an, ordinary case of theft, and the man had' confessed his error. His Honour supposed that the man had had some quarrel with his employer. He would be treated as a first offender, and ordered to come tip for sfntence when called upon. "You'd better get a ship and get away," was a concluding remark from the Bench. CIVIL BUSINESS. ERECTION OF HASTINGS HOUSE. CONTRACTORS' CLAIM. A civil claim that has boen before the Supremo Court for some considerable timo was called again yesterday morning, beforo his Honour the Chief Justico (Sir Robert Stout). Tho action arosq in regard to a contract for tho erection of a dwelling house in Hastings, Hawke's Bay. Plaintiffs in tho action were J. and A. Wilson, contractors, of Wellington. Defendant was Charks James Stanton Harcourt, land and estate agent, di Wellington.

Mr. A. Gray, K.C., with Mr. D. S. Smith, appeared for J. and A. Wilson,' while Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for tho defendant. Litigation in connection with tho matter extended back to 1911, when tho claim was first set down. From what was alleged in tho statement of claim,. it appeared that J. and A. Wilson had entered into a contract with defendant for tho erection of a dwelling house at Hastings at a contract price of Xl-fOO. They claimed that in addition to the contract prico they wero entitled to tho sum of X 351 lis. lid. for extra' works carried out, X 35 for preparing design, etc., and X 3 3s. for inspection. • Defendant (Harcourt) had paid tho sum of X 1385 Us. 10d„ but tho sum of X-iOi 3s. Id. was still due, and for this plaintiffs (Wilsons) now sued. In the original defenoo. it was urged that Harcourt had not dealt with Wilsons as principal, but in a special case, argued before tho Supremo Court in December, 1911, it was held that he was liablo as principal. As the action is still being defended on tho ground that tho contract was not completed as a whole, evidence for the plaintiffs was called yesterday. Only two witnesses had testified by 4.30 p.m., at which stago the further hearing was adjourned ■until 10 a.m. to-day.