WOMAN THIEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 10

WOMAN THIEF

Career as Shoplifter

STOLE IN A CHURCH Pleads Guilty to 40 Charges VARIETY OF GOODS FOUND Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, Dee. 12. Described by Chief Detective Carroll as about the worst thief that has ever been in the Christchurch Police Court, Leonie Evelyn McMahon, alias Norah Purcell, bookkeeper, aged 29, appeared before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., to-day on 42 charges of theft, mainly of shoplifting. jShe was ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for three years. The goods mentioned in the charges, most of which were stolen from city shops, included toothbrushes, frocks, hats, beads, a fur coat, gloves, shoes, books, spoons, forks, a pot' of jam, a purse, and a wallet. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges except two, these being the theft of a wallet and a purse. Evidence showed that the purse and wallet had been stolen in church, in one case while the owner was receiving Communion. Accused was convicted on both charges. “No Superiors for Thieving.” “It is safe to say accused is about the worst thief that has ever appeared in this court,” said Chief-Detective Carroll.

The Magistrate: That’s a good deal to say, isn’t it, chief? This court has been established over 50 years now. The Chief-Detective: Yes, but I don’t think she has any superiors for thieving. The total value of the goods, the chief-detective added, was about £142, There were over 40 charges and the goods involved in those charges constituted only about one-tenth of the goods in the possession of the police. The owners could not be found for the bulk of the stuff. The chief-de-tective stated that one look at the property must be enough to convince anyone that she must be an expert thief. There was hardly a redeeming feature about the case, and she denied the charges right up to the end. She was caught stealing a pot of jam, and that was her downfall. She was allowed to appear voluntarily like the others, but disappeared. Accused roamed about Governor's Bay for a couple of days, continued the chief-detective, and said she made two attempts at suicide. The first time she went into the water she was wearing a fur coat, and this held her up. However, the police were satisfied that the coat had never been in the water. She said she tried again a couple of nights later, but the water was too cold. Accused then wandered to Lyttelton, where she was picked up. Accused was convicted In Auckland, on 22 charges of theft, and was discharged from the Borstal in 1929, after serving two years.

Protection of Public. “The only thing I can suggest for the protection of the public Is that she should be put away for as long as possible,” added Chief-Detective Carroll. Mr. W. F. Tracey, who appeared far. McMahon, said she was a comparatively young woman and unmarried, She was living alone, and the impulse to steal seemed irresistible. “A woman like this, with no moral sense or sense of responsibility, is an absolute danger and a menace to the public,” said the magistrate. “She distributed her favours over a number of business firms in the city. They are entitled to be protected and so far as I can ensure they will be.” Accused was convicted and diecharged on each charge where the goods were valued at less than £2,and on each of the others she was ordered to be detained for refonnar tive purposes for three years.