Hoddesdon boy's mean theft

At Cheshunt Petty Sessions on Wednesday, Cyril Monk (15), of Lea Road, Hoddesdon, was charged with stealing from the dwelling-house of William Kitching, a pocket knife, and a pair of nut crackers, value 10s., on September 26.  The prosecutor, who lives at 74 Old Highway, Rye Common, said that on October 31 he missed a waistcoat and watch and chain, and on November 7 a pocket knife and nut crackers.  The two latter articles he identified as his property.

Albert Dorman, of Old Highway, Rye Park, said he bought the knife produced from Monk for 2d..  Inspector Moles said he saw the defendant in Hoddesdon and told him he was making inquiries about articles which had been stolen from the prosecutor’s house.  The defendant said ‘The nut crackers I borrowed and forgot to take them back.  The pocket knife I had to cut some sloe bushes with, and I sold it for 2d.’  The witness was afterwards handed the crackers by the defendant’s mother, and recovered the knife from the last witness.  The defendant elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty.  He was very sorry.

Supt. Handley said there was nothing known against the lad, who used to go in and clear up for the prosecutor, who was a widower.  The Chairman said the defendant was guilty of a very mean thing. but they would give him a chance by binding him over, and his mother as a surety, to be of good behaviour for 12 months.  They hoped that would be a warning to him, for if he had been younger he would have been birched.