George Crawford Boniface, a 14-year-old boy, was at Wallsend Children's Court, yesterday, bound over and placed on probation for twelve months, the charge against him being of having stolen a cash-box containing £100 in Treasury notes and silver, belonging to his employer, Frederick Ralph Kidd, grocer, Bewicke-rd., Willington Quay, on 28. Nov.
Frederick Kidd spoke to sending the accused for the cash-box and Elizabeth Moderate, servant at Mr. Kidd's house, said she gave the accused the cash-box, which was wrapped in brown paper.
Thos. Cubitt, a fitter, said he found the cash-box in a field near the railway station at Winnington Quay. In the box was some silver and a paper with Mr. Kidd's name on it.
DESIRE TO JOIN NAVY
Inspector Clark said he found a piece of paper, a half-brick, which evidently had been used to force open the box, a boy's periodical, a bank paper bag, and two sixpences in the field near where the cash-box was discovered.
P. C. Graham gave evidence that he received the accused into custody at Lavander Hill Police Station, London. When charged, accused replied, "I stole the money." Witness received £85 7s 2½d from the London Police, the amount in accused's possession when he was arrested.
Mr. G. McConnell, of North Shields, who appeared for the accused and his step-father, said the boy desired to join the Navy. The boy had previously borne a good character.
Accused stated that he bought a new suit in London to make himself look older, and he was going to Greenwich to join the Navy.
(Published in the "Northern Echo" on December 07, 1921)