Thrashing for cycle thieves

Three lads, whose ages were 16, 15, and 14 years respectively, appeared before the Juvenile Court yesterday morning charged with the theft of a bicycle valued at £5, the property of John Henry Allen. Two of the boys pleaded guilty, and the eldest, who was

represented by Mr Irwin, entered a plea of not guilty. Senior Sergeant Murray said that the three boys were mates. One of the boys met the other two one evening, and from their conversation understood that one of them was going to purchase a bicycle. He asked if they knew where they could get him a bicycle, and one of the other lads agreed to take a bicycle from a house where he had formerly boarded. The following evening two of them attempted to dispose of their spoil at a secondhand shop. The dealer became suspicious of their story as to how they had come into possession of the machine, and told them to come back the following day. He then informed the police, with the result that these proceedings were taken. After the three lads had told their separate stories, the magistrate (Mr H. Y. Widdowson) dismissed the charge against the eldest of the lads. His Worship said that his story had been corroborated to a certain extent. The lad who admitted taking the bicycle was admonished and discharged, and the youngest, who appeared to be the ringleader, was convicted and discharged, and both were ordered to receive a thrashing, to impress upon them that honesty was the best policy.