JUVENILE FORGERS.

Evening Star, Issue 2911, 18 June 1872, Page 3

JUVENILE FORGERS.

We learn from the Bendigo Advertiser that a case came before the local police court on the 9th of May, in which two boys, children in fact, were charged with forging and uttering, which presents many remarkable features, and more than anything else illusstrakes the want of parental control. The respective ages of the boys were fourteen and thirteen years, the oldest being a boy named M‘Donald, and the other Collier. It appears that Collier found an Oriental Bank cheque-book with a few leaves on it in Mr John Marwick’s back yard, A boy named Eichard Williams suggested that they should try and raise money on the cheques, and this amongst the boys was agreed to, but M‘Donald was looked to as completing the matter. The boys assembled at the Hustler’s Reef, and after borrowing pen and ink they proceeded to fill up several cheques, each one taking more or less interest in the matter. At last one in which Mr John Marwick’s name was written satisfied the boys, and it was filled in with the sum of LlO, and the name of Mr John Marwick was forged. A boy named Chelan wrote one part of the name, and M‘Donald finished it, and then M ‘Donald, Wright, and Collier went to get it cashed. Collier was apparently put forward by his more astute companions, anti he purchased a suit of clothes at Messrs Moffit and Kittson’s, and presented the cheque in payment. The cheque was taken to the bank and cashed, and the L 9 balance returned to Collier. With this money the three boys went to Melbourne, and M‘Donald spent it shouting rides for other boys. Then they came hack to Sandhurst and were arrested. The whole case unmistakeably points to the want of proper home control. The signature of “ John Marwick” on the cheque was not at all like Marwick’s signature, and the boys signing it never thought or troubled their heads whether it was like or not. M‘Donald and Collier were committed for trial.