EMULATING DESPERADOES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 4

EMULATING DESPERADOES

» YOUTHFUL 'AUCKLANDEE. TAKES 'i'o THE RANGES. By Telegraph .—Press Association. Auokland, March VI. \ Emulation of a gang of desperadoes as portrayed at one of the local picture houses_ resulted in a, boy, aged fifteen, appearing in tho Juvenilo Court to-day charged with_ theft of a gun, a revolver and a quantity of ammunition, valued at £5. According io tlic police, the lad secured a mask, and made his way at night to the rear of a gun-dealinc shop in Queen Street. Ho climbed round by a rain water-pipo, and having broken a skylight, entered the shopT where ho secured the weapons. Thn boy thfen set off for the Waitakcrc I Ranges. After firing 12s. worth of ammunition, lie threw the gun into a creek. The chief-detectivo said tin lad received his unfortunate inspiration from a picture in which were details of masked bushrangers. His mother was dead, and his father, who was going to the front, had left him with relatives, who apparently could not control him. The Juvenile Probation Officer said the father held rather strong views regarding pioturcs of the character mentioned. The Magistrate: I feel jusfc as strongly; but what can I do? The lad was committed to tho Weraroa Training Farm, and tho father was ordered to pay the valuo of the ammunition ÜBed. Another lad, aged sixteen, in no way known to the first boy, was charged with stealing from tho Eame shop on the same night a rifle, a razor, a gun cleaner, a revolver, a packet of razor blades, and other small articles, of a total value of £5. The ohief-detective said the lad. while employed by tho owner of the shop, removed the goods, and the same night returned and took them away. Ho was one of tho greatest actors, and tho most untruthful lad the chief-Satec-tivo had met in a lengthy police experience. Ho was living with elderly peo r ple, who seemed to think he could do as he liked. All the articles had been recovered with the exception of 2s. worth of ammunition. Tho lad was committed .to the Wcraioa Training Farm.