JUVENILE BURGLARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1919, Page 4

JUVENILE BURGLARS.

CRIMES ATTRIBUTED TO PICTURES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. During the hearing at the Juvenile Court to-day of seventeen charges of breaking, entering, and theft ftgainst ten boys, whose ages ranged from nine to fifteen years, defending counsel said the boys' actions wero due largely to the influence of pictures. It was a significant fact that on the day on which the first crimes were committed the boys had been to a picture show, where they had seen a bloodthirsty cowboy picture. The effect of this picture had apparently' turned the boys' imagination, and on the way home they committed the crimes with which they were now charged. When the boys entered other premises they had previously witnessed another serial of the picture. The boys whom he was defending had also heen reading what he described as the "yellow press," and he produced a copy of a publication and drew his Worship's attention to two stories. Mr. E. Page, S.M., said there was no doubt the pictures were a very valuable agent for educational purposes, but some were unsuitable for boys to see. The pictures were somewhat to blame for this series of crimes, and he pro-' posed to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Internal Affairs, as he regarded the position as serious. In Auckland some years ago a similar series of crime was perpetrated by boys as the result of the exhibition of such pictures as were mentioned by counsel.