§ Mr. Messerasked the Home Secretary why two boys, named Arthur Henry Parrish and Leonard Albert Wakerley, of Tottenham, aged 14 years and 16 years, respectively, having been granted bail for 10 days at the North London juvenile court on 20th April, were not taken home; whether he is aware that the boys bore excellent characters from school and work; and whether he will remit the costs of £1 imposed, in view of the time they spent in custody?
§ Sir S. HoareI have ascertained that these two boys were charged with wilful damage to 20 panes of glass valued £5. They appeared before the Juvenile Court on 20th April and were remanded on bail till 26th April. On that day they pleaded guilty, and were remanded in custody till 4th May. On 4th May, when full information was available to the Court as to the character of the boys, the Court decided to dismiss the charges under the Probation of Offenders Act, ordering each boy to pay compensation of £1 to the prosecutor whose property they had damaged. In these circumstances I see no reason for any action on my part.