"THE DEMON WITHIN"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 1 June 1937, Page 8

"THE DEMON WITHIN"

EXCITED BY STOUT. COURT PLEA FOR SHOPLIFTER. Where Margaret Agatha Moore, aged 47. has gone for the next 21 days—to prison there will be no stout to exercise the "demon within her," a phrase which was used by defending counsel in the Police Court to-day. Margaret Agatha, arrested by Detective T. W. Allsopp yesterday, on a charge of stealing a child's cardigan, valued at 8/6, pleaded guilty when she appeared before Mr. W. R. McKean. S.M., this morning. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said Moore, while in a city store at 11.40 yesterday morning, was seen to pick up' the cardigan and place it in her bag. She left the shop, but was followed and bi ought back, and later handed over to the police. Moore had previously been in trouble. "This poor, lone woman, a widow, has been in ill health for some time," said Mr. W. Noble, who represented her. "She suffers from neurasthenia, and cannot eat, but she can drink stout, and the unfortunate part about it is that the demon within her seems to become excited by the stout. Perhaps if she was prohibited it might , exorcise the demon that I have said is within her." Mr. W. R. McKean (as he perused ' Moore's lengthy list of previous convictions) : Do you really think it would, Mr. Xoble? She already has seven previous convictions for breach of her prohibition order. These show how effective a prohibition order would be. She also has served numerous terms of imprisonment for theft. She will have to do without stout for 21 days. She is sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment. I