JUVENILE FORGERS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1204, 7 June 1872, Page 2

JUVENILE FORGERS.

We learn from the Bcndigo Advertiser that a case came before the local police court on the Oth May, in which two boys, children in lact, were charged with forging and uttering, which presents many remarkable features, and more than anything else illustrates 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 Richard 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 iv 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 Martvick was forged. A boy named Ghelan 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, and he purchased a suit of clothes at Messrs Moffit and Kitlson's, and presented the cheque in payment. The fiheque was taken to the bank and cashed, and tneL9 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 back to Sandhurst and were arrested. The whole case unmistakably 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.