ALLEGED THEFTS BY WAITRESS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27040, 15 May 1953, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFTS BY WAITRESS

CHARGES DISMISSED BY MAGISTRATE

| Three charges of theft against Zelma Doreen Gemmell, aged 23, a waitress (Mr D. W. Russell), were dismissed by Mr Rex C. Abernethy, SM., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The accused was charged with stealing a pair of spectacles, valued at £5, the property of Una Beatrice Johnson, at 'Christchurch on March 26; four linen sheets and four linen pillow slips, OS church on or about March 5; and a green china vase valued at £1 15s, also the property of Mclntosh, at Christchurch on or about March 9. Detective-Sergeant E. G. Ward said the goods were stolen from Warwick House, a private boarding-house in Christchurch, where the accused was employed. The articles were afterwards found in her possession m a hotel in Kaikoura. . ■ . , , Constable E. J. Currie said he had interviewed the accused in Kaikoura on April 20 and asked her about the spectacles. She produced the glasses, but said they did not belong to her. They had been packed with her luggage by mistake, and she intended to return them. Acting-Detective B. Wilson said he had asked the accused about the sheets and pillow slips. She said she had only taken them because the' wife of the complainant had told her she, could take them. She said the vase had been given to her by a Miss Taylor who worked at Warwick House at the same time, and she had no idea that it was stolen. The accused in evidence said she had discussed the fact that she was going to have a baby, and wanted to get married, with Mrs Mclntosh, who had told her she could stay on at Warwick House. “Mrs Mclntosh gave me presents from time to time,” said witness. “She gave me a pair of good shoes, two pairs of gloves, a good suit and some other things. She said I could have some linen, so I took enough to change.” The Magistrate: I am going to give the accused the benefit of a not very big doubt The door was left open to her by a generous woman. The charges must be dismissed. An order was made for the return of the property.