Corpun file 22441

The Glasgow Herald, 30 March 1945

No Officer to Carry Out Birching Order

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"Although the boy is likely to make a good recovery, he might easily have lost the sight of his eye. It must be brought home to boys like you that you cannot play with firearms in this reckless manner. To put you on probation would be pointless, and to fine you would be just as useless. I think this is a case for birching, and the sentence of the Court will be 12 strokes of the birch rod."

So said Sheriff-substitute G.D. Valentine at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday after he had found a 13-year-old boy guilty of reckless discharge of an airgun. Later in the day, after his review of the case, and on the ground that there was no officer appointed by the Sheriff to carry out the sentence, the Sheriff-substitute ordered the accused to be discharged.