YOUTHFUL BURGLARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 71, 15 June 1927, Page 13

YOUTHFUL BURGLARS

“I view the actions of you young men as nothing but absolute rascality and I shall do my best to break up such associations, by the aid of the probation officer, who will see to it that in future you do not associate with each other. Your habits, socially and In the way of recreation, employment and general amusements, will be under his control for a fairly long period at least.” Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., thus delivered his verdict at Onehunga Police Court yesterday, to the four young men of the district—Henry Hall Smith, Harold John Brown, Albert ‘William Weaver and Victor E. Williams—who were more or less concerned in about 25 charges of burglariously breaking and entering and theft. A week previously Mr. Poynton had determinedly committed the four prisoners on remand to Mount Eden Gaol, with the explanatory' remark: “I will not grant bail in any case. You shall all go to gaol for a week, if only to give you a taste of what you are heading for if you do not mend your ways!” In the case of Williams (for whom Mr. Rogers appeared), his Worship observed that prisoner had previously been given a chance in the court to put a check upon his misdeeds, but he had failed to appreciate magisterial leniency. Upon the first charges of breaking and entering he would be committed to 14 days’ hard labour, and in connection with the remaining charge of theft, he would be placed upon probation for three years. The other three prisoners were placed each upon probation for two years, under the strictest possible supervision of the probation officer, and every prisoner would have to make full restitution of the value of the property stolen. They would not be allowed to associate with each other, and their propensity for closely following honest, regular employment (or otherwise) would be keenly kept under observation. Any deviation from observance of the regulations imposed would promptly bring them before the court again.