A SHOCKING THING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1920, Page 2

A SHOCKING THING.

EXTRAORDINARY CAREER. BOY BUILDING-BURNER SENT TO GAOL. Wellington, Yesterday. A plump-faced, curly-haired little boy appeared in the dock of the Supreme Court yesterday morning to be sentenced for arson, and the observations of the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Edwards, revealed that tlio lad has a, rather extraordinary history. TIIO case had been heard at Palraerston North,' where the accused, Wiliiam Wall er, pleaded guilty to the charge of arson. "Well, hoy," said His Honor, ."it must appear to everybody who sees your face —although you are older than you look—a shocking thing to send a, boy of your age to prison, but you have left society no alternative than to do so." His Honor said the lad lived with his parents in Hawera, but in July,, 1919, ran away from home. He placed an obstruction on the railway line, a shocking get which risked lives of everyone aboard the train. No doubt he vyanted to see a smash, but he did not see one. He was treated very mercifully—but he again absconded, .from home, broke into a sftop and iyas com* mitted to a boys' training farm. But .there he burnt down two of the buildings, so he wag sent to Weraroa, where he burnt buildings and destroyed about £SOO worth of furniture belonging to one of the officials. The manager of the farm reported that Walker gave no trouble, but seemed to have a mania for setting fire to buildings, and therefore wag a menace to the public. He considered that the boy should be placed where ho could not escape. Unfortunately there was no place except Weraroa, from which it would not be difficult to escape. Walker having tried to wreck a train and burnt buildings, it was quite impossible that the court could fil'.ow him the chance of doing the like a»ain. "I shall not send you for n definite term of imprisonment," said TTis Honor, "but shall leave you to the care of the Prison Board, which is presided over by the Chief Justice, who, if he has a fault at all, has too great tenderness of heart. He and those benevolent gentlemen associated with him will show you all the consideration you can expect. The sentence of the court is that you be forthwith committed to prison and there detained for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding two years."