YOUTHFUL DEPRAVITY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1624, 30 November 1882, Page 3

YOUTHFUL DEPRAVITY.

At the Resident "Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, yesterday, before Mr H. W. NorthocofV!R!Ml;f tteWy McPherson was charged, bh the information, of one True Daltou, with having on the 17fch mat f assaulted* #£on J>f complainant's undefttujage of 14 years, 'by beating him with a strap and 'a' ti"-tfee stick. Mr Dalton conducted his own case, and defendant was unrepresented by counsel. It appeared from the evidence of the boy Charles Dalton that he had been, \vorkjug for defendant at the gravel-pit near the County Council Chambers, Hamilton East, and that' oh the day 'named, witness being about to leave, asked for his wages. Some dispute arose, ami defeudimt said he would settle with witness's father. On witness refusing t0,, g0 until lie got his money defendant beat him as alleged in the information. For the defence, Mr iMcPherson called several witnesses, who deposed that the boy Dalton, upon defendant refusing to pay him, used most foul language, calling defendant a d a old sod, a b y h~— , a mean old crawler, and other choice epithets of a like natuie. Mr Northcroft, in dismissing the information with costs (355), administered a very severe lecture to the boy Dalton, remarking that had he been brought up before him charged with using the language proved to have been spoken by him, he (the Magistrate) would have sent him to the industrial school. Ho wanted the lad not to perse veie in a course which could only end in caol.