POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 11

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) TEN CHARGES OF THEFT. Jessie Elizabeth Reeder appeared for sentences on ten charges of theft oi goods of a total value of £l3l 11s lOd from the D.I.C. Ltd (two charges), Arthur Barnett Ltd., F. and R. Woods Ltd., Brown, Ewing, and Co., W. Penrose and Co. Ltd., D.S.A, Ltd., Woolworths Ltd., A. and T. Inglis Ltd., and Drcavers Ltd. The Magistrate said he did not know that he was altogether justified in adopting the course he proposed, in view of the fact that there was a whole series of charges, and that they extended over a considerable period of time. However, the accused was just a young woman, and if she were sent to gaol her whole future would probably bo ruined. On the charge of the theft of goods valued at £SO from the D.I.C. Ltd., the accused was admitted to probation for two years, conditions being that sho should not attend the skating rink, and that she should not be out after 8 p.m. without special permission. On the other charges she was convicted. SERIOUS CHARGE PREFERRED. A man whose name was suppressed until the facts are gone into was with indecently assaulting a girl aged six years. On the application of “Detective-sergeant Nuttall the accused was remanded till December 4, bail being allowed in self of £SO and one surety of £SO. GIVEN A CHANCE. Raymond Davie Boiford appeared for sentence on a charge of obsccno exposure Counsel for the defence said that the accused was just on twenty-four years of age, and lie had been educated at some English college, later being adopted by an uncle and an aunt who bad given him quite an exceptional education. He was two years on the training ship Worcester, and left there with a first-class seamanship certificate. He was entered ns a probationary midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve, and, was then apprenticed to the Shaw, SavOl Co. Ho was in New Zealand on several occasions, and decided to make >l, his home. He secured employment from an indent agent, and later with a firm of footwear specialists. Ho had visited his aunt and undo in England, ind on b;s return this year married. Ihs wife was prostrated with grief, but if probation could be extended to the accused arrangements would be made for him tc leave Wellington on Friday to go to employment in Adelaide.

Tho Magistrate said that this was one of those cases of sexual perversion which wore more or loss unaccountable, especially in view of the accused’s antecedents. On account of his excellent character hitherto the accused would bo given a chance rather than have his career blighted by a term of imprisonment. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within one month.