Boy at sharp end of law after stealing a syringe

A shortfall from sale of hot cakes leads to theft of a brass syringe

In the Scarborough Children’s Court before the mayor, Mr CC Graham, and other magistrates, an errand boy was charged with stealing and carrying away a brass syringe, value 6s.

Defendant admitted the theft.

The chief constable explained the syringe (produced) was the property of the boy’s master. It was afterwards ascertained that the boy had sold it to Mr George Robert Archer, second-hand and marine store dealer, 43, North Street. In reply to Mr Archer’s questions the boy said the syringe was his father’s, who wanted 1s 6d for it. Mr Archer believed the boy’s statement, advanced him the money and also a penny for himself. Defendant subsequently admitted having sold the syringe to Mr Archer.

Mr AJ Tugwell (one of the magistrates): What I want to know is why did Mr Archer give this boy 1s 6d for this syringe without ever enquiring about the boy’s father?

Mr Archer replied that he knew the boy’s father well, but did not know his name. He gave all the information he could to the detective about the boy.

Mr Tugwell: I should only like to say that it would be more satisfactory if you (Mr Archer) had seen the boy’s father about it before you bought it.

Mr Archer: I shouldn’t like to disbelieve everyone who proffers goods with me or else I shouldn’t do any business.

The chief: Yes, that is the trouble, your worships.

Mr Tugwell: Not at all satisfactory. As long as boys can find men like you (meaning Archer) they will steal.

Replying to the mayor, the boy said he had money owing from his customers on his hot cakes so that he stole and sold the syringe to make it up.

The mayor: Did you pay your employer the 1s 6d you got for the syringe? - Yes.

The boy’s father said he had never had any trouble whatsoever with the boy until a few weeks ago, when he seemed to be in difficulties about the money for the hot cakes which he took out in the mornings for his employer.

The father added he had a wife, eight girls and two boys. This boy he took away from school with the permission of the Education Committee to help at home a bit.

The employer said the boy had been very difficult to manage this last week or two. He got commission on the cakes sold - 2d in the shilling. Until he got into difficulties he had been a good boy and earned a lot of money. They only settled up with him once a week. He had got behind considerably these last two or three weeks, accounting for it by saying that the people to whom he sold the cakes owed him money on them.

The mayor said the magistrates found the boy guilty, but they would deal leniently with him and place him under the Probation of Offenders’ Act for twelve months. The father would be bound over and ordered to stand surety in the sum of £5.

The magistrates wished to state that the practice of the marine store dealer in buying things from children was objectionable and very unsatisfactory. It only made temptation to steal easier, and the more encouragement it gave for children to steal. The magistrates urged all these kinds of dealers to be extremely careful from whom they were buying goods.

The magistrates also deprecated the system of the employer as to only settling up with the hot cakes once a week. They considered there was much room for improvement. There should be a settling up with the boy every day.

Guilty The boy would be dealt with leniently and placed under the Probation of Offenders’ Act for twelve months