A. BOY GUNMAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17973, 19 March 1930, Page 7

A. BOY GUNMAN.

POINTED REVOLVER AT WOMAN. THE FILMS BLAMED. Sentence of twelve months at Emil Plains Prison Farm was passed at Sydney Sessions on Charles Cyril Buckland, aged; ID, for having, while armed, attempted to rob a woman in a shop at South Hurstvillc. Buckland. in company with two Youths aged 16 yqears, went to the shop, and Buckland, pointing a revolver at the woman, demanded the contents of the till. 'The alarm was raised and Ihe youths ran off without obtaining anything. Buckland,-’s employer said die was hard-working and had never shown any violent tendencies. He was prepared (o take him back again. Sergeant Hale said Luckland s parents were highly respected people, and he really could not see any reason for defendant having committed, the, crime, unless it was a spirit of bravado, lie was not. in need of money. “Fiims and Books.” Mr McMinn. for defendant, said Buckland seemed to be “the victim of modern films and pernivious litcra-tui-c.” lie thought the offence was the result of a spirit of adventure. He asked that, the youth who had no previous convictions, should be allowed out on a bond, and ruled that he. did not think the community would he troubled w'ith him any more. judge While said he could not regard Ihe offence as a freak. SonwIhing must he done to leacli people not lo gel their morals from pieluie shows. Accused’s parents did not teach him such a thing, and the nnl> way lie could have learned was from public displays, not only picture shows, but also from hooks, and so

on. .... What Buckland had done, said lus Honor, had all Ihe colour of a serious crime, for which his Honor had sen! a man io a long term of imprisonment. He, could not compare the gravity of the two offences, however.