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rule. They frequently stumble into crime as in the case of five boys playing " Follow
my leader." The leader in this case pulled at the lock of a show case containing
watches. The followers each had a pull and the case opened! Theft followed—
almost naturally. Again, consider the case of a gang of boys charged with stealing
1 cwt. of sugar from a lorry. Premeditation, here, is unlikely. It is more reasonable
to suppose a preliminary investigation as to the contents of the sack and perhaps
attempt to try its weight by one or two of the gang, the others being, as it were,
stampeded into the commission of a crime.
Lack of premeditation is apparent, also, in very many single-handed thefts such
as that of the paper boy who steals the bottle of milk from the doorstep (3 such
cases) and the messenger boy who thieves from the hall of the house he is visiting
(many such cases). In these cases the pit of opportunity suddenly reveals itself
and the weak one falls in. Considered psychologically, the reaction involved in the
overwhelming majority of these theft cases is a very simple one—almost comparable
to a reflex act in its simplicity. The desire to acquire and possess is instinctive and
natural. When the barrier put up by training—religious, social, moral generally—
is negligible or nil, the instinct to steal is unhampered, and if practised becomes a
habit. In less than 2 per cent. of these cases did there appear to be a deeper
psychological reaction calling for investigation. In the remainder, training—
social and moral—over a sufficiently long period should eradicate the fault.
Embezzlement.—13 cases occurred in the series and although in essence they
were cases of theft, they had certain interesting features which merit short treatment
under a separate heading.
All these were messenger boys and all but one (14½) were over 15 years of age.
All were physically very fit. Their mental ages varied as 11 (4), 12 (6) and 13 (3)
—all well above the level of mental defect. The sums of money involved varied
from a few shillings up to £16. All these boys showed lack of foresight in varying
degrees in their response to the Porteus test. Their lack of wisdom and judgment
was clearly shown in the foolish belief, held by all, that they could escape detection,
and in their surprise at being caught. Their lack of moral training was shown in
the ease with which sudden temptation bore down and carried away what little
" nous " they possessed.
Every one of these boys needed further education and moral training and
was capable of benefiting by it. A word must be said, too, as to the lack of wisdom
shown by an employer who will expose a lad to the temptation of stealing what
is to him a fortune.
Beyond parental control.—Of the children charged under this heading 85 were
boys and 10 girls. Records are available in 85 cases. The ages ranged from 6—15,
the average age for boys being 10½ years and for girls 11½. Truancy was alleged in
36 of them, stealing in 33, staying out late in 25, and other charges (bad temper and
habits, swearing, etc.) in 29. Enquiries into the home situation of these children
elicited the following facts which, in themselves, explain at once many of the cases
and point the way to the cause:—
In 32 cases the father was dead or had deserted the family. That is to
say, in fully one-third of them the control necessary for family cohesion was
wanting.
In 13 cases the mother was dead or had deserted. In 16 cases the mother
was at work all day. In 16 cases there were step-parents or unmarried partners.
Parents were of different nationality in 3 cases, in 2 cases they were insane
and in 2 cases parents had committed suicide. In 35 of the families there were
five or more children.
Many of these children were verminous, ill-nourished and otherwise neglected
on admission to the Place of Detention. In only two of them was any complaint made
during their period of remand that they were not easily controlled by the most gentle
discipline. As regards their mental levels, 9 were defectives, 33 were noted as backward,
27 as average and 16 as above average: 23 were noted as being nervous and
unstable.