CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 August 1926, Page 9

CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

ARRESTED

WEALTHY REMUERA WOMAN.

SENTENCED TO 14 DATS.

•£$J) THREE YEARS' PROBATION.

An overcoat which she wore', plus the jmartness of a detective and the keen discernment of an employee of a large city emporium, proved, the undoing of g, woman whose career of shoplifting was suddenly cut short yesterday. Some gix months ago an overcoat was stolen from the store of Milne and Choyce. Yesterday, about 11.45, the house mangger of this establishment observed a woman wearing a coat which was similar to the one stolen. Not having sufficient evidence to warrant him adopting the drastic step of questioning or detaining the woman, the house manager telephoned to Detective Nalder, wbo arrived at the store in quick time. But the woman was nowhere to be §een. She had left the store. However, Detective Nalder was given a good description and lie then proceeded up Queen Street. He had not gone very far when he saw a woman whose appearance was similar to the description given him. Keeping her under observation, Detective Nalder was led into Hart Brothers' shop. He noticed the woman lift a couple of articles from a stand, but did not see lier replace them. She then left the shop and walked into that of Smith and Caughey's, but the did not take anything from this place. On accosting the woman, the detective found the articles taken from Hart's in her possession, and a walk to the detective office followed. The woman was then arrested, placed in the lockup, and subsequently bailed. Charged at Police Court. The woman, whose age was listed as 41, and whose name was ordered to be ■nppressed, appeared at the Police Court this morning, when she pleaded guilty to the following charges: Theft of an overcoat valued at £12 19/6, the property of Milne and Choyce; theft of three books valued at 16/6, the property of Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.; three bottles of perfume, a box of perfume, box of safety pins and bath salts, valued at £2 10/, the property of Milne and Choyce; eight books valued at £2 3/, the property of Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.; one jar of face cream and a box of garters, valued at 12/9, the proparty of Milne and Choyce, and one paper light shade and box of powder, valued at 2/6, the property of Hart Brothers.

Accused, as she stood in the dock,, kept her face partly coverid by holding the collar of her overcoat tip "with her bands.

Detective Nalder, in evidence, said that after her arrest, he proceeded to accused's home in Remuera Road, Remuera, - accompanied by two conitablee. There he found a quantity'of Hew goods. Accused could not explain .where she had got these ( from. She afterwards admitted the whole of Qic charges. The offences had taken place between March 23 and yesterday. Accused was a woman of substantial means; she had a considerable sum in the bank. Apart from her present offences, her character was good. Chief Detective Cummings added that accused had gone from shop to shop, rtealin? goods. She came from a most respectable family, and her husband held a' prominent position in the city. Accused lived with her family in a house worth anything between £2000 and £3000. This was lavishly furntehed, and her surroundings were comfortable indeed.

No Necessity to Steal "One feels himself in a difficult position in such a case as this," said Mr. Hogben, who appeared for the woman. "Her husband is in a good position, while her two daughters have only recently embarked on professional careers—one is teaching elocution, and the other singing. The accused has always lived comfortably. Apart from her husband's income, accused and her husband were interested in property and derived an income from this."

Counsel said that tihere was absolutely

Bo need for accused to embark upon a - series of shop-lifting escapades. She could not explain why she committed the offences. There was no reasonable

explanation for her actions. She wae a woman in good circumstances and of good character. She had a wide circle of "friends who respected her. Accused had brought up her family well, and had provided them with, a good education, so that they were now able to earn their

own living. It wae obviously not a case of a woman who was driven by necessity to steal, neither was there any

suggestion tlhat accused etole for gain. If it wae not kleptomania, it was border.ing upon it—some irresistible impulse had evidently moved a/ccueed to commit the thefts to which ehe had pleaded guilty. Mr. Hogben submitted that in being arrested and brought to the Police Court, accused had suffered great puniahaent. If the benefits of probation could possibly be extended to her it would bring Upon her the full realisation of her position. It was not an ordinary case of thieving, but a case of kleptomania, shoved by an impulse over which ehe l*ad no control. Probably the recent serious illness of her husband had

■Worried her. This worry, said counsel, fould no doubt, accentuate any weakness. Probation wae the most fitting method of causing her to realise the eerioueness of her crime. Question of Primitive Instinct. Mr. Poynton: I do not think that this is a case where probation can be extended to accused. The offences which •he hae committed are serious offencee. After all, it i- a question of primitive instinct. It ie a mystery why such a woman as accused should do this. If a savage saw a bunch of bananas, he would tjUte them. He would give way to temptation. The difference between a savage and * civilised being is that civilisation suppresses these primitive promptings. Juet *s a savage seee bananas and takea them, •° does a woman see a pair of nice silk •tockings in a chop, and want them. She must have them. Accused will have to be

Punished for her offences. Mr, Hogbeii: Well, if your Worship eoes not consider that probation can be »PPned, probably you could inflict a one. Accused hae money. Chief Detective Cumminge: She is nnancial, your Worship. , ***■ Poynton: A fine to a millionaire * like a blessing. It is no puniehment 10 a rich person to impose a fine.

Mr. Hogben: In the case of thie woman a fine, plus a period of probation, would be great punishment. The indignity itself will be a tremendous punishment to her.

Mr. Poynton: Probatioji was never intended to apply to such cases as these, where a series of tfhefts have been committed.

Mr. Hogfoen: Well, I seriously ask youT Worship to consider all the surrounding circumatanoes —the position of her family and husband. There is something in what your Worship has said about primitive instinct. Civilisation has reached that point where the primitive instinct does not come out, except in cases of abnormality If that is so, a long period of supervision, as is provided for under the Probation Act, would be the greatest remedy and cure to the primitive instinct.

Mr. Poynton: I will take into consideration what you have submitted to mc. But it must be that we are getting too lavish in our dispensation of probation. I'm afraid that probation is encouraging offences. Accused will be ■sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment on one charge, convicted and discharged on all the others. She will also be admitted to probation for a term of three years, and is to nia'ke restitution of £12 19/6.

The magistrate, in reply to Mr. Hogben's strong plea for suppression of accused's name, said that names of offenders guilty df systematic shoplifting were never suppressed. However, owing to the positions held by accused's two daughters, he made the order for suppression.