Youthful Housebreakers.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7852, 19 June 1905, Page 2

Youthful Housebreakers.

SENT TO THE INDUSTiUAI, SCHOOL. Two fcoys, Albert May, aged 10 years and four months, und Al bert H. Cook, aged 8 years and 10 months, were brought before the Police Court on Saturday morning, on the charge of having on June 6 broken into the dwelling of William Henry Holland, at To Henui, und stolen therefrom a £lO note and a purse, watch, and gold chain, valued at £l7. Sergeant lladdrell conducted the case far the police. The mothers of the boys were present in the- Court.

William Henry Holland, bricklayer, stated that he resided in a two-room-ed cottage near the East End bathing shed. On returning home on the evening in question ho found one ol' the panes of the window broken, although the door was still locked as he had left it. On entering he found the place had bqen ransacked, lie missed the £lO note and gold watch guard from tile pocket of a vest hanging on the walil, and the purse and watch from the mantelpiece. He identilied the articles produced as his property. Mrs J. Ewing, residing a't the corner of I!rown and OIIIJ Streets,, stated that at 4 p.m. she was working in the front garden when t'he two accused came walking along from the direction of the bathing house. Witness heard one of thd boys ramark "J am in lufck, I found this." Witness questioned them, and the boys showed her a £lO note. She asked where they found "it, and the boy May replied : '■'! found it in the long grass near the bathing shed, in an old purse." Witness asked them to leave the note with her «!id she would find the owner, but they refused and were walking .away, whe" she offered to give them two sWillings if they would leave it in her charge. They agreed, a"*! she subsequently gave the note to her husband, who handed it to the police. The boys told witness they had thrown the purse away,, but at her request returned for it and tended, the purse (produced) to her. Eady Gibbons stated that ho resided in Devon Street and attended the Central School. He knew both the boys before the Court. About the 7th inst. the boy Cook gave witness the watch produced in exchange for some marbles. Wfitness handed th« watch to Detective lienjamin, when the latter interviewed him o, day or two afterwards.

Detective Benjamin stated that the boy May denied tho charge, and said, "Afbert Cook found the £lO note and purse and I npvpr saw the chain at all" Cook confessed.

It appeared that bqth boys bad been In trouble before, May for

lighting a firo that; might have caulked very serious damage, and ' Cook on the charge of being beyond the control of his parents. v In their own) interests the S.IT. thought the best course was to commit tho boys to the Auckland Industrial School, and wade an wdsr accordingly,'