WOMAN STEALS COAT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 84, 3 January 1930, Page 11

WOMAN STEALS COAT

COUNSEL’S SUCCESSFUL PLEA PROBATION GRANTED Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 2. On a charge of stealing goods (a coat and a frock) valued at £l6/14/6, the property of Margery Dean Ltd., Anita Esther Wilson appeared before Mr. E.' D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Chief-Detective Carroll said that the accused attended the trots at Addington yesterday wearing the stolen coat, which was recognised by the manageress of the shop. The manageress informed a constable and the accused was arrested. After listening to representations made by Mr. Sargent (counsel for the accused) the Magistrate admitted the accused to probation for two years, conditionally on her entering into a bond for £25, with one surety of a like amount, as a guarantee of good behaviour during that period. The accused was also ordered to pay £l6 14/6, the value of the stolen articles, within seven days. The chief detective said that the accused was before tjie Court in December last on five similar charges and was then sentenced to 21 days’ imprisoument.

After stating that accused was the wife of a man in a good position in the city, Mr. Sargent said it was one of those unfortunate cases that one sometimes read about, in which women became strangely , affected when in a certain condition." There were two children, aged eight and. a half and seven years respectively, and if the woman could be released, the husband •was prepared to undertake to have her looked after by her two sisters. It was not a case of a person committing a crime with the idea of selling the articles and making money, for the husband bad provided the accused with money for a coat. She had not used the money, which was still in the house. The Magistrate said'that he would accept what counsel had said.