JUVENILE COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2667, 12 January 1916, Page 9

JUVENILE COURT

BOGUS BOY SCOUT. In the Juvenile Court yeaterday morning, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., two Mothers, aged respectively 13 years and 12. years, were charged with being children, who were not under proper control. Senior-Sergeant Mullaney represented (he polico. On Saturday, when the 9th Reinforcements paraded, both boys were taken to the police station because of their suspicious oonduct. On one of them was found the sum of £3 17s. Id., and on the other the sum of £2 14s. 10d., and the suggestion was that this money had been given to the hoys by soldiers on the understanding that the boys would dispatch certain telegrams with it, procure refreshments, ctc. The younger of the two boys admitted that, he had destroyed seven telegrams, with which he had been entrusted. Various other allegations of dishonesty were mado against the boys, one of whom wore the uniform of a boy scout, although he did not belong to the organisation. The police suggested that the money found in the boys' possession, should be devoted to the patriotic funds, as there would be 110 means of tracing it to the rightful owners. .

The Magistrate pointed out that the conduct of the boys had possibly cast a reflection on the whole of the boy scouts, but it was clear that the proper of" the organisation did not indulge in these practices. Commissioner E. S. Baldwin, head of the boy scout movement in the Wellington Province, said that the scouts were instructed that they were not to take any money for services rendered to the soldiers. If they were required to send a telegram they, of course, received the money for it. If there was change, and it could not be returned, the money was handed to the snout master for payment to the patriotic funds. Before admission to the wharf could he gained by scouts, they were supposed to produco passes, and there' had evidently been some mistake if the two accused had gone on to the wharf without such passes. He, personally, was satisfied that the real boy scouts had not been guilty of ' any dishonesty towards the soldiers, and he wanted the public to understand that.

The Rev. H. Van Staveren, who was present, and who took an interest in the ease, informed the Magistrate that he would endeavour to see that the hoys were placed under better control in future. The father of the boys was also present. He was stated to bo a man in poor circumstances, and with a large famijy to maintain. T-Ie promised the Magistrate, however, that he would endeavour to look after the two boys more closely in future. The Magistrate severely admonished tho lads, and warned them that, if tDey appeared before him for any similar offence, thev would be sent to an industrial school. _ He did not propose to deal severely with them on this occasion. Tbev would be discharged, on their father's undertaking to keep them tfnder proper control. Tlie money found in their possession would be handed to the patriotic funds.