MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) REMANDED FOR SENTENCE Patricia Adams, aged 22, a machinist (Mr J. G. Leggat), pleaded guilty to a charge of atealing on Auguat 23 at Christchurch, a purse and contents, valued at £49 10a, the property of Mona Dorothy Wakelin. She was remanded for sentence to September 17, for a report to be made by the probation officer. Bail was granted in her own recognisance of £3O and one surety of £5O. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Tate said .hat accused was employed as a waitress in a city tearooms. On August 27 the proprietor complained that a purse was missing. Accused admitted taking the purse from the handbag but gave no Account of what she had done with the purse and two rings. Two days later she endeavoured to make it appear that the purse and rings had been lost by dropping the purse in the alley by the tearoom. A youth came along and picked it up. He was found trying to sell the rings. Accused later admitted the theft of the contents of the handbag. admitted TO PROBATION Trevor William Wiltshier, aged 20. a cook in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, appeared for sentence on two charges of theft. He was charged with stealing, on August 20, £lO, the property of Clifford Fraser, and on August 30, £l4, the property of Arthur Suunex. He was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution of £l9 forthwith. 9 Mr J. G. Leggat. for Wiltshier, said that the accused had a good record in the Air Force. He apparently committed the thefts impulsively when in need of ready money.

SUSPENDED SENTENCE Marguerite Ruth Devenish Meares, aged 36 a married woman, pleaded guilty to a ’charge that on August 8 she stole a handbag containing £35 in money, two wristlet watches, one pair Of leather gloves, one ball-pointed pen, one powder compact and lipstick, and one Post Office Savings Bank book, the property of Bertha Alice Robertson. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years. She was ordered also to make restitution of £45 18s forthwith. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Tate said that on August 8 accused took a handbag from the shop of Hay’s, Ltd. As a result Of investigations it was found that one watch had been given to accused s sister but the handbag and other rould not be recovered. Accused admitted tak ing the handbag and Post Office Savings Bank book. She said she had watched newspapers tor advertisements for th missing handbag, but none had ePPjared. For accused, Mr C. S. Thomas said that she saw the handbag on a counter in Hay’s, Ltd. She saw a woman and asked if it was hers. The woman said it was not Accused then took the handbag home. The handbag had apparently been through since her previous conviction 12 years ago had been good. THEFT OF BICYCLE Launcelot Joseph McEvedy, aged 43, a labourer, appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing, on September 1, a bicycle, valued at £B, the property of P^mor-Se^eant F J Ste c. Fletcher said a ’ constable saw accused take a bicycle into a°shop. He was suspicious and ascertained that accused was trying to sell the bi cycle for 30s. Accused was unable to give .an account of how he obtained the - cycle. The bicycle was one which had earlier been reported missing. •‘Among your previous convictions are ’ two tor bicycle thefts. For* your present jtfYnnrp vou will be convicted and ffid to prStn for six months,” said I the Magistrate.