Disorderly Behaviour At the Esplanade

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Disorderly Behaviour At the Esplanade

YOUTHS BEFORE MAGISTRATE. Pleas of guilty to charges of behaving in a disorderly at the Esplanade on the evening of October 11 last, were entered by six youths who appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North yesterday. They were John Steedman, George Thornton, Bruce Dennis Bell, Leo Newlands Boniface, Leslie William Puklowski, and Joseph Raymond Franklin. Mr L. G. H. Sinclair appeared for Boniface, and the others were not represented by counsel. Senidr-Sergeant Mclntyre said defendants, off the night of October II and successive Sunday nights, hald resorted to the Esplanade and made their presence objectionable to visitors to the reserve. They had paid attention to passing cars and thrown clods of earth. In one instance a car window was broken and a woman passenger was injured. Considerable annoyance had been caused by the gang’s depredations. Thornton had been before the Court for disorderly behaviour and fined, last year. There' had been no complaints of recent date concerning the youths, the police inquiries having had a good effect. Mr Sinclair said Boniface and Bell had only been twice at the Esplanade, and had made no regular practice of ‘ ‘hunting with the gang. ” Tliere had been no objectionable language used. Boniface was 18 years of age at tho time of the offence. Counsel was confident there would be no occasion for concern about Boniface’s conduct in the future. His employer took an interest in his welfare and he would have the benefit of his employer’s influence and home influence. Mr Sinclair suggested that sentence be postponed for a year. Mr Stout said ho could find no jurisdiction for placing the youths on probation, but probably he could suspend sentence. Perhaps a small fine would prove salutary. ‘‘The boys may be all right individually, but when they get together fTTby indulge in a little horseplay,” the Magistrate commented. He would not consider suppression of the names when youths made a nuisance of themselves tc fellow citizens. They must realise that that sort of thing would not be allowed. Addressing the youths, the Magistrate said he would take a lenient view as a result of their recent good lehaviour. He would fine each of the defendants £1 and costs.

“It may be amusing to you, but it was no amusement to tho motorists to be spattered with mud and stores,” added Mr Stout. “You must take your amusement in some other way.” Three younger boys were dealt with in the Children’s Court on similar charges