HIGHWAYMEN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 311, 30 October 1880, Page 2

HIGHWAYMEN.

Two young men—standing-, the smallest 2ft. 9ia. and the tallest 2ft. lOiu.—were brought up before the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, on a charge of being escapees from Burnham Reformatory. It appears this is not the first time by many that th* enterprising pair h*ve taken French leave of the Reformatory, to seek their fortunes in the wilds of Ashburton, and when appr-hended yesterday by Constable Smart they stoutly and indignantly denied having any knowledge whaterar of such an institution as tha* at Burn—ham. However, when asked this morning by the Magistrate what they had run away for, the senior partner promptly replied fiat " they were hammered too much, and didn't get enough to eat.'* Their well nourished if somewhat tattered appearance belied the " to eat*' statement, and his Worship hinted th» suspicion that was in his mind as to the young men's truthfulness, adding also that they would have to go back and get more hammering. The names of the boys are William and George Tozer. They have been a week away from tha institution, and since their escape they haTe slept in hedges and ditches, anywhere, in fact, that presented shelter. Their clothing has evidently seen better days, and their boots have decidedly been made for men of more inches than theirs. No notice of their escape having reached the police the children were remanded for three days.—Ashburton Guardian. We learn that the two boys, on their way to the Industrial school at Burnh»m, managed to evade their cu&todian. by jumping off the train near Bansida in North Rakia. The elder one made off and was pursued by the Constable, while the younger boy remained near the station. It is said that he laid a sack-barrow across the line, and apparently wishing to see the train thrown off the track. He was brought back to Rakia, where he was locked up for tha night and was taken to Burnhaer bf Conatable Bowse on Thursday.