I SHOPLIFTING CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 21

I SHOPLIFTING CHARGE

"MOST PISTKESSING

CASE"

MAGISTRATE'S SYMPATHY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 7.

' An unemployed returned soldier of ! uiblemished character who stole in order that his wife might have a singlet and a new pair of soles for her shoes received the Magistrate's sympathy when he appeared in the Magistrate's Court today on a shop-lifting charge. The accused, whose name the Magistrate ordered to be suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a singlet, a pair of rubber, soles, and a tie of a total vahie of 7s lid, the property of Woolworths store .in Karangahape Road.

Senior-Sergeant Hal! said that the case was a most distressing one. On May 31 Detective Gillum was called to the shop, where the accused, who had been detained, frankly' admitted the theft of the articles, all of which were recovered. "This man h#s a wife and two children aged five years and 10 months respectively," said Mr. Hall. "He is unemployed and is on sustenance, receiving £1 9s per week. Out of that he has been paying 14s per week as rent for two basement rooms. There are few articles of furniture in the house, and the bed consisted of an old wire mattress stretched across some boxes. The mattress itself was practically useless and valueless for warmth. They had hardly any bedclothes and very little, food. In fact, the family has been living principally on vegetables. They have been able to afford only 2d worth of milk daily for the 10-months-old baby. The accused's wife has been doing her.best under adverse circumstances and the place was' found clean and tidy. The accused has never been in any trouble before, and he says he stole the singlet for his wife and the soles in order that he might resole, her shoes. Police inquiries show that he even sold-his working boots in order to try and keep his home together." The Rev. G. E. Moreton described the case as an extremely sad one. "This man cannot be expected to keep his wife and two children on a few shillings a week," he said. "His wife's health is bad. His character is beyond reproach and he is a returned soldier with a particularly fine war record. I am quite sure that this lapse has occurred because of the economic position of the country." >

Mr. Moreton added that his society was now assisting the family, and another minister had also agreed to help. "

"The circumstances of this case are really sad and distressing," said Mr. W.R. McKean, S.M. "I propose to take a course which I do not usually take in shoplifting cases by adjourning the charge until December 6.", . Addressing the accused, Mr. McKean said: "Something will be done to assist you. It is most unfortunate that you should be here on such a charge."