MANY THEFTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 6

MANY THEFTS

YOUNG WOMAN ACCUSED. EIGHT DWELLINGS ENTERED. MANY WITNESSES CALLED. Portions of the Ashburton Courthouse resembled a general store in appearance this afternoon, when, as a sequel to a series of thefts from dwellings in Ashburton recently, a variety of goods which had been stolen were arrayed on tables and on the floor, when a young married woman, Edna May Smith, was charged, on 10 counts, with theft. Accused was not represented by counsel. The police case was conducted by Sergeant T. L. Moore. Mr G. Kelly, J.P., and Mr R. Kerr, J.P., were on the Bench. The charges were as follow:— -, (1) On January 6, 1936, did break and enter the home of J. W. Strachan, with intent to steal.(2) On July 12, 1935, did enter the home of G. J. Broker and steal goods valued at £2 Us 2d. (3) On November 20, 1935, did enter the home of A. Bushell, and steal goods valued at £8 15s 6d. (4) On November 23, 1935, did enter the home of E. May _ McKee, and steal goods valued at £5 6s 6d. (5) On November 29, 1935, did enter the home of Irene Hickey and steal goods valued at £2 10s 6d. (6) On December 5, 1935, did enter the home of Anne Elizabeth Miles, and steal goods valued at £8 3s, and money to the amount of £7. (7) On December 15, 1935, did enter the home of H. C. Percy, and steal goods valued at £1 8s 6d. (8) On December 17, 1935, did enter tbe home of, W. C. Newlands, and steal goods and money to a value of £9 16s 4d. (9) On December 20, 1935, did steal a purse and 7s 6d in money, the property of J. D. McDonald. (10) On July 28, 1935, did enter the home of Charlotte Murdoch, and steal goods valued at £1 9s 4d. Maud Teresa Strachan, of Walker Street, said that on the evening of January 6 she closed up her home before going out for a drive. Returning about 8.15 p,m. she saw a window open and her sister said she could hear footsteps inside. Her sister closed the open window as witness ran for her husband. She saw a woman walk out of the front doorway. She was the accused. Asked what she was doing, accused replied that she had gone to tbe front door, which was open, and she had walked in calling out, "Is anyone home?" She said she had gone to see Mr Strachan about a suit for her husband.

Witness took soap from the accused's handbag. The police were then called. Frances Ivy Broker, Belt Road, said she Avas residing at the corner of Winter and Havelock streets in July last. She left home on the morning of the 12th, locking the back door and closing the windows. On her return she went to a drawer to get a bangle to show to a friend. It was not in the drawer, though it had been there in the morning. The next morning she missed money from the kitchen, and then noticed"that other goods were missing. She reported the facts to the police. Mary Christina Bushell, Burnett Street, said that on the night of November 20 last she went out with her husband. On her return at 10 p.m. she found that peanuts which she had left in her desk were missing. AVitness added that she searched the house further and found that a bottle of sherry was missing, together with provisions, a large quantity of linen, cutlery, crockery, a saucepan, a tennis racquet and a bread board. Witness identified these articles as they were produced from the piles of goods on the Court-room tables. Witness said that a number of other articles were still missing.

Evelyn May MeKee, Cameron Street, stated that when she returned from a holiday in November, her maid having opened up the house the previous day for airing, two days later she found that articles were missing from th? house. These included a tie, a gold bangle, a crepe de chine frock, a cot pillow case, a pair of bootees, a knitted jersey, several lengths of material, a handbag, a silk scarf, a pram pillow case and other things. Most of these witness identified in Court. In addition to> these goods, witnesa added, kid "gloves, a pair of bootees, a vase and other articles were still missing. Irene Hickey, of Cameron Street. said that on November 29 she was at her home in the morning to collect clothing after having been staying with her sister. She discovered that a small suitcase was missing, but did not worry about it, as she thought her brother must have taken it. Later she found that items of crockery had been taken away, together with black material (identified, though it had since been made up). The suitcase and crockery were also identified.-

Anne Elizabeth Miles, Grigg Street, gave evidence regarding missing crystalware, items of clothing, a sum of money and a suitcase, as well as other items', some of which she identified in Court. George Trevor Betteridge, boarding at the residence of the previous witness, stated that on December 2 he placed £8 in a coat pocket, and hung the coat in the wardrobe in his room. On December 6 he went to get the money, and found that £7 had been taken. Evidence was given by Henry Clifford Percy, Peter Street, regarding provisions, a tea set, a cup and plate, two knitted cushion, covers which he found were missing from his home. The cup and plate and the cushion covers he identified in Court. The other articles were still missing. Margaret Reid Newlands, Wills Street, stated that she and her husband went to an entertainment on the evening of December 15, no one being in

the house at that time. The house was locked up and all windows closed. On her return she noticed that a blind had been altered in position from what it was when she left home. Inside, she found that a. number of articles had been taken. She identified in Court a. bed jacket, a gold brooch, two cake plates, two wristlet watches, a gold signet ring, a dresser set and a pair of silk stockings. (Proceeding!