BOY CRIMINALS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1920, Page 4

BOY CRIMINALS

WELLINGTON GANG IN COURT. MANY CHARGES OF THEFT. By Telegraph.—Prats Aesoelatlos. Wellington, Ijast Night. Seventeen lads hailing from Wellington South nppi'iired in the Magistrate'* Court to-day to answer to about sixty charges theft of varying degree, a good many being indictable. The youths concerned, with the numher of charge* against each, were as follow: John William Compton (45 charges), Roy George Cudley (22), Leo Francis McLaughlin (1">), Alfred Frank Tyree (14), George Charles William Smith (13), John Joseph Ash (12), William Douglas (10). Clifford WHmot Ross, and Kenneth W. Costello (8 aach), Albert George Bennett (5), George Rolfe (4), Thomas McLaughlin (3), .Tolm W. J. Jopson, George A. R, Irving, Claude. Miles, Percy Edward Hanson. and James Campbell (1 each). The ages of the lads range from 16 years to 20 years. They carried out their depredations come times in pairs and some times three were together, and again five of them operated. They were apparently not particular whether it was a church, a whare, a shop, or a warehouse that they invaded for booty. All the tola pleaded guilty to the charge* preferred against them, and the following were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence: John W. Conmtoa, Clifford W. Ross, Alfred F. Tyree, K. W. Costello, John J. Ash, William Douglas, George C W. Smith. l/>o F. Mclaughlin, Thomas McLaughlin, Roy G. Cudf, and Albert G. Bennett. James Campbell, who was convicted of one offence, was given a good character by Chief-Detectiye Ward, a»d he was discharged. Hanson wa» sentenced. to a month's imprisonment with a recommendation that he be transferred to Weraroa. George Rolf, ,T. W. JoptOD, G. A. R. Irving, and Claude Miles w»e remanded till to-morrow for sentence.