SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7917, 27 May 1889, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

jPALMERSTON NORTH, May 27. The wife of a well-known resident was arrested on Saturday night on a charge of stealing goods displayed outside a local draper's shop. The very reprehensible practice of displaying goods wholesale on footpaths has sprung up here, affording a great temptation to those not formerly inclined. At the Police Court to-day, before Messrs Solomon Abrahams and J. Waldgrave, J.P.s., the accused pleaded guilty to four charges of petty larceny. In mitigation of punishment her counsel made a lengthy address on her behalf, in which he alluded to the distressing nature of the case. He said that accused and her husband had lived happily together until a short time ago, when things went badly with him, and trouble appeared to have taken accused out of her proper senses. He said accused was suffering from a dreadful disease, and incarceration would completely break down her health. He asked that she be dealt with under the Probation Act. Sergeant Manning objected, as there were four separate charges against the accused. The Bench sentenced her to three months' probation on the first charge, and to twelve hours' imprisonment on each of the others, concurrently, dating from the time she was arrested on Saturday night, Sergeant Manning asked the Bench to remember that probation was not granted or his recommendation.

Satisfactory progress is being made with the construction of the Palmerston-Ashurst section of the Gorge Railway; nearly all the cutting is finished and the formation along the route is being rapidly proceeded with.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 7.15 this morning.