Whitehaven Juvenile Court Print E-mail
The Whitehaven News - Thursday, August 14, 1913

WHITEHAVEN JUVENILE COURT
Monday, August 11.
(Before R. JEFFERSON (in the chair) and R. HELLON, Esqs.)
 
 
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A BOY’S FONDNESS FOR FLOWERS
LEADS TO LARCENY.
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 Alfred KERR, 11, of Wood Bank, and a school boy, was brought up for having stolen seven rose trees valued at 7s from a garden at Solway View, the property of Wm. CANNON, traffic inspector, between 8 p.m. on the 28th July and 8-30 on the 29th July.
 
 W. CANNON, traffic inspector for Mr. G. WILKINSON, coal merchant, said he lived at 59, Duke-street. He had a small garden at Solway View and had in it a number of rose trees. About 8 p.m. on the 18th July the rose trees were all there. On the 29th, from what he was told, he made a visit and found that seven trees had been pulled out by the roots and taken away. He was shown some the same day by the police, and he identified them as his, and had planted them since. He valued them at 1s each. The boy had been in the garden with witness many a time.
 
 P. C. MAHER said that about 9 a.m. on the 29th July from information received he visited the garden and made inquiries. He found the defendant with his brother in his own garden. He saw some newly planted rose trees, so told the mother of his inquiries. The mother said, “Now, Alfy, you hear that. Where did you get the rose trees from?” He replied, “I found them in a heap in the plantation. The mother at once pulled the rose trees and said, “If you have taken them wrongfully you cannot have them.” The boy said, “I have been in CANNON’s garden this morning for a ball.” He then said, “I might as well tell you the truth. I took a fancy to the rose trees and threw away over the fence into the plantation about seven o’clock this morning, as I was going for the papers. When I got my papers I returned to the plantation and took the rose trees and carried them home to my mother, and told her I found them in the plantation.” Witness took the rose trees and took the boy to his father and explained to him the circumstances. CANNON identified the rose trees, and again planted them in the garden.
 
 CANNON said the rose trees were named with zinc labels, and were quite fresh and healthy.
 
 The chairman, (to the boy’s sister, who was in Court): You know, your mother ought to have been here.
 
 The sister: Yes, but I was there when the roses were brought home.
 
 The Chairman: Yes, but you see the roses in bloom, healthy and fresh, with names of zinc on are not usually found on dust heaps or in plantations, thrown away, (and to the boy): What made you take the rose bushes? - Nothing, sir.
 
 The Chairman: Are you very fond of flowers?
 
 The boy: yes, sir.
 
 The Chairman: And gardening?
 
 The boy: yes, sir.
 
 The Chairman: Well, it is not quite the way of helping your gardening taking other people’s flowers. Mr. CANNON is a friend of yours. Has you in the garden perhaps teaching you gardening, and then you go round taking his nice rose trees.
 
 The boy at this burst into tears.
 
 The Chairman: We are going to do you no harm, but for goodness sake, let this be a lesson to you. One cannot help thinking that your mother might have helped you a little out of this. Rose trees are not found chucked away in the plantation. She might have been present here and spoken for you. Let this be a lesson to you. Don’t you get into trouble again. A lad in standard five and eleven years old ought to know better. Never mind how fond you are of flowers, always get them in an honourable way. Now you can go.
 
 
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