SHOP LIFTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 226, 28 October 1914, Page 11

SHOP LIFTING.

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Sarah Turner and Sarah Murphy, two married women, were charged with the theft of goods valued at £6 11/9 from the D.I.C. yesterday. Mr M. Donnelly, who appeared for the two accused, said they were respectable married women with families, and they had never previously been before the court. They stole the goods at sale time. They had been drinking a little, and the excitement produced by the drink, which they were not accustomed to, and the effect of the sale, would lead them to .commit the offence. They were both well up in years, and so far bore a clean record, and he would ask the Bench to deal leniently and treat the matter as a feminine failing which seemed to be characteristic of some women. They were seen taking the goods, which had been recovered. / The Chief Detective said it was an ordinary case of shop-lifting, which was becoming prevalent. The women were otherwise of respectable character. Sarah Turner, who had held a bag open for the receipt of the goods, was fined £5, and Sarah* Murphy, who did the actual stealing, was fined £lO.