ALLEGED SHOPLIFTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 148, 24 June 1889, Page 3

ALLEGED SHOPLIFTING.

A respectable-looking, ycung married woman was charged at tho Police Court this morning before Messrs W. Growther aud W. Dennison, Justices, with having stolen one lady's ulster, value £1 7s 6d, the property of Mrs Elizabeth Dunne. Mr Tole appeared for the accused, and pleaded net guilty. Sergeant-Major Pratt conducted the prosecution.

Mrs Elizabeth Dunne, draper in Karangalmpe Road, deposed that on the third of May she got in some ladies ulsters. She bought the ulsters and marked them herself. The ulster produced had still got the thread where her mark had been placed by her. No, two of her ulsters were alike.

Miss Annie Dunne, daughter of last witness deposed that an ulster was taken from a nail Just outside the door of the shop. It was similar to the one produced.in Court. Witness identified the ulster produced in Court. When it was taken the tag was left hanging on thnnail. Miss Agnes Greenshields, assistant in Mrs Dunne's shop, deposed that on the 17th May witness hung the ulster produced in Court on a nail just at the door. Witness was showing it to some ladies between 4.30 and 5 o'clock. She remembered that the prisoner had been in the shop one night before the 17th. Witness never sold the ulster to the accused. Witness sold a hat to Mrs Murphy for the child. Elizabeth" Ann Speak, an employee of William Beale, second-hand dealer in Wel-lington-street, deposed to having sewn a loop on the ulster produced in Court. Witness could not swear to the day of the month.

Mrs Beale deposed to having bought the ulster from the prisoner on or about the 17th of last May. On the 4th of June she brought another ulster, but witneas refused to buy it. Witness told her husband about it, and he followed her. Witness had previously given the ulster over to Detective Ede. She did not ask the woman's name as she had such a lady-like appearance. William Beale deposed to following the woman and asking her to come back to the shop. Defendant told him that she had the things given her by a Mrs Smith to sell. She promised to bring M<-s Smith down to the shop at dinner-time.

Mr Tole cross - examined the witness at some length, and at length he asked Mr Beale if he would swear to the woman supposing he had not identified her. Mr Beale replied, "My wife would not say that. She speaks the truth. Lawyers tell lots of lies, though."

Mr Tole said that was an insult to the Bench and the profession.

Mr Crowther rtquested the witness to withdraw the expression, which he did. Detective James Wyatt Ede deposed to visiting the accused at her house iv Newton in company with Constable Finnerty. Witness asked if she had sold an ulster to Mrs Beaie. She replied that she had never sold anything to Mrs Beale and had never spoken to Mr Beale. Witness knew nothing at all about the accused.

Mr To!e asked if there was any case for him to answer.

The Bench asked, "Have you no wit nesses."

Mr Tolu said he did not think it was necessary to adduce any evidence. Mr Crowther said that the Bench could not discard the fact that there had been seven or eight previous transactions between the accused and Mr Beale. They admitted that the identification of the latter was incomplete.

After some consideration tho Bench asked if the police had any previous knowledge of the accused.

Sergeant-Major Pratt eaid that the police had nothing: against the woman before. The Bench said that in consequence of the ulstct not being identified the accused would acquitted.