"INCREDIBLE STORY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 12

"INCREDIBLE STORY."

WOMAN SHOPLIFTER. "FROCK FELL INTO BAG." The explanation that a frock fell from a hanger and dropped into her bag was made by Annie Hunter, aged 38, charged with shoplifting in the Police Court yesterday. Her story was disbelieved by Mr. Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., who remanded her for sentence on a charge of stealing a frock valued at £1 15/ from a city department store. Accused pleaded not guilty. A buyer employed at the store said she saw accused and another woman in the store at 3.45 yesterday afternoon. Accused had one hand in her bag, and when ehe withdrew her hand witness observed that there was two inches of a frock showing in the bag. She denied taking the frock, which was missing from the rack. Accused then placed the bag behind her back and attempted to extract tho frock and hand it to her companion. The manager then came on the scene and detained the accused until a detective arrived. »- Detective Vial, who saw the accused in the manager's office,- said ehe denied stealing the frock. She said it was ridiculous to suggest theft, and then explained that the frock fell .from the hanger into her Ibag. He searched accused's house, but did not find any stolen property there. "I had no intention of stealing the frock. It slipped off the hanger into my bag," was all that Hunter had to say when invited by the magistrate to make her explanation. "Quite an incredible story, and you must be convicted," remarked Mr. Wilson, who remanded accused until Saturday for sentence. The magistrate instructed the probation officer to report on accused. ■