ADVANCED LARRIKINISM,

Waikato Times, Volume 1230, Issue XIV, 18 May 1880, Page 2

ADVANCED LARRIKINISM,

Fob a very considerable time past Hamilton East has been infested with about as daring- a gang of larrikins as ever disturbed the rest, or robbed the garden, of a New Zealand citizan. These children, for they are little better as regards age, have imposed a perfect reign of terror on the inhabitants, and although the majority of them have on different occasions found themselves in the hands of the police, warning and punishment seem to have no effect upon them. A few days ago the garden of Mr William Cumming, Hamilton East, was visited after dark, and a number of fine pumpkins abstracted. The matter was put in the hands of the police, and Constable Murray at oncl set about the job of catching the young scoundrels who committed the theft. It took him a very short time to settle the identity of the perpetrators, but although he searched diligently for one of the number, a boy named Hugh Murray, eleven years of age, who has been the ringleader in most of the incursions he only found him yesterday. The cons table then went down to the school and arrested three other lads, two of them being brothers named Cockhead, respectively about twelve and ten, and the other named Keep, aged about eleven. Suspicion fell on these three boys owing to their having on Friday evening last gone to the shop of Mr Bell, baker, and asked for two loaves ofibread fora Mrs Edwards, which they obtained, but it was afterwards discovered on false pretences. Since their arrest and lodgment in the lock-up the boys have freely confessed their guilt, and have described the manner in which the theft of the pumpkins was effected, one of them keeping watch on the road while the others went down and carried the vegetables up. They disposed of the pumpkins for half-a-crown, sharing the proceeds amongst them. The bread they carried away and devoured. The only thing which appears to give them any uneasiness is that the police have not arrested a lad named Murphy, who, they allege, was with them when the pumpkins were stolen, although he refused to go into the garden with them or to carry the pumpkins out. Murphy will be arrested as soon as he can be found, and the whole five will probably make their appearance before the Magistrate to-day, when a remand will beasked for till to-morrow. The lad Murray, although only 1 1 years of age, is, we are told, a most incorrigible young scamp, and has given a world of trouble to his parents. Some time ago he absented himself from home for three days and nights, and had to be brought back by the police ; on another occasion he took a horse out of the township, and with young Keep went down as far as Hokonui, where he was again captured and brought home. This time his father has cheerfully handed him over to the police, as he says he can now do nothing with him. The brothers Cockhead are also well known to the authorities, having been brought up a short time ago on a charge of maliciously destroying property. On that occasion they were leniently dealt with, with what result may be seen. Sergeant McGovern is exhibitiug a most praiseworthy determination to put down the pest of larrikinism, and we, feel sure that he will receive every assistance from the residents.