Corpun file 24924 at www.corpun.com

The Toronto Daily Star, 25 March 1927, p.22

If Parents Lose Control of Child They Lose Status

Can't Come to Court Asking That Children Be Not Punished

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"If people allow children in their 'teens to run around like that they can't come here and ask that they be not punished. If the parents have lost control the courts have to take charge," declared Judge Coatsworth, to-day.

His honor thereupon sentenced 17-year-old Jake Harrison to 18 months definite, 18 months indeterminate, in the Ontario Reformatory, for robbing with violence W. Coucher, of $40.

In addition the youth will receive five strokes of the strap in the second month and five in the sixth month.

A concurrent sentence of one month was imposed for common assault on Moses Goldcant, an aged man.

The charges arose from a street brawl on Christmas morning. W.P. Horkins, defending, argued that the boy was not criminal and that the deed had not been premeditated. The court observed that he had previously been convicted of assault and fined $10, and remarked: "That shows the kind of a fellow he is."