RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3964, 12 September 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY.

(Before H. Kenrick, Esq., E.M.)

John and James McAlister (two boys aged 9 and 7 respectively) were charged with breaking into the house of a aaan named Hancock, and stealing a chain, a half sovereign, and a shilling.

Sergt.-Major O'Grady stated the circumstances of the case, which were as follows :—On Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, the man Hancock came to the station and complained that his house had been broken into during his absence, and the articles before mentioned stolen. The boys had &ot in by breaking two panes of the window, and besides taking the articles, had burnt paper about the room, and also burnt some letters. The police at once went with Hancock, and arrested the boys, and after some questioning the the younger said they had hidden the. chain under a house, where it was afterwards found, but they would not tell what they had done with the money. They made several statements, but on enquiry they were found to be untrue. Mr Hancock asked the Bench's permission to withdraw the charge, the father of the children being willing to make good the damage done. The father of the two boys said he had never known them to do anything like this before. X His Worship would allow the charge to be withdrawn, he would punish the boys severely, and would separate them. His Worship then allowed the charge to be withdrawn.

Court adjourned