YOUTHS FACE MANY CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 10

YOUTHS FACE MANY CHARGES

Theft And Car Conversion

THREE SENT TO BORSTAL

INSTITUTION By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 16. “I am satisfied that three of these youths can be describe!! only as bandits, and that they should be placed under supervision for some time, said Detective-Sergeant Walsh in the Magistrates’ Court when prosecuting four youths on a series of charges embracing theft and unlawful conversion of motor-cars of a total value of floSo and motor-cycles worth £328. Hie three referred to by the detective-sergeant were sent to Borstal for three years, a fourth being admitted to probation for his first offences, three charges of The magistrate, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, made an order that the name of this youth should not be published. The other three accused were William Hill, aged IS, Raymond James Houghton ’ aged 18, and Clarence Noel Edwards, aged 18. Each pleaded guilty. “These cases show rather an alarming series of crimes,” said DetectiveSergeant Walsh, who first referred to the youth whose name was suppressed. He was connected with three thefts committed when he was in the company of the other youths. Against Hill there were seven charges of theft an'd conversion, against Houghton 15 charges of theft and conversion, and 14 charges of theft and conversion against Edwards. Edwards was also charged with negligent driving of a motor-car and driving a car without a licence. Car Collision. This, he said, was a car taken at Helensville which collided with another vehicle near Rawcue. Edwaiffis drove the car. “Hill, who is described as the leader of the gang, was the occupier of a bookshop in Grey Lynn,” continued Detec-tive-Sergeant Walsh. “He lived at the back of tlie shop. He was previously before the Court on November 14 on two charges of car conversion, receiving two years’ probation on each. Four days later he was in Court for theft, when he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called ou within 12 months. “Houghton also lives in Grey Lynn. He comes from a decent, respectable family. ■On November 14 he was placed on probation for two years on six charges of car conversion.” Referring to the youth whose name the magistrate suppressed, DetectiveSergeant Walsh sai'd this boy was making his first appearance in Court. It was fairly evident that he had been led astray and into trouble by the other boys. Witness thought this 'boy was deserving of another chance. Counsel made pleas on behalf of accused. . ~ In placing the first offender of the quartet on probation Mr. Orr Walker said it was obvious that the other boys had led him astray. The term of probation was fixed at three years, the youth being ordered to make restitution of £2/10/-. The magistrate said he could not any difference between the other three youths. He did not think it was necessary or called for further to remand Houghton, as suggested by counsel. It was plain that probation was of no use to him. Plea by Father. At this stage an appeal for leniency was made by Hill’s father. “Through no fault of mine my boy was a ward of the State when he was a child,” said the father, “but it is only lately he lias got into trouble. Unfortunately I have no control over him. He lias been running a book shop, and I think that the class of American filth he has stocked must have affected him. He is not a vicious or bad boy in any way, tin'd now that he is nearly 19 I think he might do all right if given a chance.”

Houghton, Hill and Edwards were each ordered to be detained in a Borstal Institution for three years.

“The only hope for them is in a Borstal institution,” Mr. Orr Walker said.