WAREHOUSE BREAKING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1358, 19 January 1905, Page 3

WAREHOUSE BREAKING.

A JUVENILE GANG. Auckland, Tuesday. A gang of juvenile warehouse breakers were convicted by Mr McCarthy, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday of thefts which were oarried out in very methodical fashion, tho youngsters going to tho length of collecting their spoil in one place, and then hiring an express cart to take it to a dealer for sale. The accused wero William Scarbron (18), William Barnett (16), Rene Joseph Marvin (16), and John Reid (14), who wore charged with breaking and entering the premises of Mr S. Parker, in Mechanics’ Bay, Parnell, on Friday, stealing a quantity of zinc. Scarbroa, Barnett, and Marvin were also charged with breaking and entering Mr P. Hoffman’s piano warehouse, in Upper Queen street, on January 10, and stealing a quantity of zinc. They pleaded guilty to all the charges. Chief Detective Marsack told the magis-

trate that tho gang of boys had been in existence for about a week, and the thefts wero carried out with a certain amount of premeditation. They secreted themselves in Mr Parker’s promises until the workmen left, and ono boy then watched outside while tho others collected all tho zinc and load they could stow into some sacks. They walked off with as much as they could stagger under, and secroted tho metal in the scrub near Shelly Beach road. On Saturday morning they engaged tn express cart to remove it to a dealer for sale. Tho dealer uuspoctod that it had been stoleD, so ho told tho boys to call again, and very properly communicated with the police, who soon apprehended the gang. In tho caso of Mr Hoffman’s warehouse, Scarbroa, Burnett, and Marvin broke in and passed out a large number of zinc shoots. They were observed by a woman, and finding that they had been detected they dropped the stolon metal and bolted. Scarbroa and Marvin had bad records, tho former having attempted to escape from gaol when serving a month’s sentouco recently for assault, while MarviD, in December, was convicted of broaking and entering a warehouse in Fort street, from which a large quantity of sweets were stolon. On that occasion he was discharged upon promising to oome up for sentence if called upon.

Mr McCarthy informed Scarbroa that they had both neglected to avail themselves of chances to reform. He therefore sentenced Scarbroa to 12 months’ imprisonment, while Marvin would have to go to prison for six months. Barnett was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if oalled upon, while Reid was convicted and discharged.— Star.