BEAUTY IN THE DOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 307, 28 December 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

BEAUTY IN THE DOCK.

DOWNFALL ATTRIBUTED TO FLATTERY. I NOBLEMAN'S OFFER. "This defendant when 23 won a prizein a beauty competition as a type of Grecian beauty—out of 50,000 competitors, with the result that she was inundated with all sorts of flattering offers; offers of marriage from a French nobleman; offers of jewellery from Indian princes; and offers of engagements from film producers." This was said by her counsel, Mr. John Maude, of Maude Hall, 29, of Nelgarde Road, Catford, who pleaded guilty at West London Court to stealing 118 robes, valued at £300, belonging to her employers, John Barker and Co., Ltd., High Street, Kensington. _ "She is a woman of inordinate vanity, added Mr. Maude, "and has become obsessed with the desire of surrounding herself with beautiful clothes which she could look at and handle." Flood of Flattery. She was too nervous to take advantage of the flood of publicity, but the flattery that was showered on her developed in her thirf inordinate vanity, so that she vras never happy unless she could feel that she possessed, though she could not in her humble social sphere use them, such beautiful clothes as she might have worn if she had been able to accept some of these glittering offers. The motive which prompted accused, a young woman of excellent character and very respectable parentage, was not a desire to make money out of the sale of the dresses, but a spirit of acquisitiveness. Hall, who was sentenced to three months in the second division, had been employed as a saleswoman since 1927. Suspicion fell on her, and she was followed from Barkers' Stores by Detective Sergeant Welsby. In her possession was found a parcel containing six dresses.

A search at her home later led to the discovery of 112 more dresses which must have been stolen since the beginning of September.