POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22209, 11 December 1935, Page 14

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. (Before Mr J. R- Bartholomew, S.M.) AFTER HOURS TRADING. Arising out of a visit to the Waterloo Hotel by a constable on Saturday night, W'ilham' Crossan was lined £5 and costs lor selling liquor after hours and William John Crossan, the barman, was fined £2 and costs for supplying. They were represented by Mill. S. Irwin. Henry Finuerty, Thomas Henry Rowley, and Wilfred Barclay, three of the five men found in the bar when the constable was promptly admitted by the licensee’s son, were each fined 10s and costs. WOMAN SHOPLIFTER. Catherine Ann Butler admitted two charges of shoplifting on November 29. From one shop, she stole a bedroom clock valued at 2s lid, and from another store she took 12 handkerchiefs, half a pound of tea, a quarter-pound of cocoa, a pair of children's shoes, and a pair of women’s stockings, of a total value of 7s 2£d. “ This is an ordinary case of shoplifting,” stated Chief-detective Young. Accused was seen by an assistant to pick up a bundle of handkerchiefs and to place them in a bag. When she was accosted and taken to the office, none of the goods was found. After she had left, a bag, which had evidently been dropped, was found on the floor and the articles and an addressed envelope were found in it. When seen by the detectives, the woman admitted the thefts. She was married 34 years of age, with two children, and her husband was in work. She had not been previously suspected of shoplifting. Accused expressed deep regret for her offences. She said she had acted on the spur of the moment, not having done “ anything like this ” before. ‘‘ Offences of shoplifting must be curbed,” said the Magistrate. “In the present case, the accused is a respectable woman, who has never been in any trouble. In view of her humble circumstances the penalty imposed will a substantial one. She will he fined 20s on each charge.” Accused: Is it possible to have my name suppressed? The Magistrate: Names will not be suppressed in cases of this sort. Accused w-as allowed a month in which to pay the fine. TWO GIRLS IN TROUBLE. A 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty to the theft of two wristlet watches and to the theft, with another girl, of a woman’s frock and a pair of curtains. Chief-detective Young said that for some time past there had been’ numerous thefts of small sums of money and articles from the Public Baths. Two watches removed from attache cases left in the dressing rooms w-ere traced to the girl, who' admitted the thefts. As to the theft of the frock and curtains, the two .girls had gone to a house in Heriot Row and knocked on the front door. An elderly lady, who was deaf, answered and they asked a question as to the whereabouts in the street of a fictitious person. They then went to the back of the house and one of the girls entered through a window and took the articles. For some time, the parents of the girl had had trouble with her running away from home. She had gone to Christchurch, and while there had kept undesirable company* and had on one occasion returned to her place of residence under the influence of liquor. ■ When arrested, she was uncontrollable, assaulting the detective and station sergeant and kicking the matron. She had been before the court in May on a charge of being idle and disorderly, having been sleeping out, and the charge was withdrawn after she had spent three months in the Salvation Army Home. Mr C. J. L. White, who appeared for the girl, said the girl’s mother felt that she was responsible, as she believed she had been too strict, with the result that accused had kicked over the traces. The girl had taken the watches to provide money for her companion on a proposed visit to Wellington and the theft from the Heriot Row house was made to provide clothing for the other girl. Accused was nowvery repentent for her objectionable conduct when arrested. She had spent a week in gaol and counsel pleaded that she should be given a final chance. “ I doubt very much whether the girl should be given the chance now asked for,” said the Magistrate, after hearing the mother’s plea. “ However, the mother pleads for a chance and the girl is quite young. Against my better judgment, I will adopt the course of admitting her to probation for two years on the condition that her companions and mode of conduct are approved by the Probation Officer.” He pointed out to the accused that she would have been sent to the Borstal for two years had not representations been made on her behalf. The publication of accused’s name was prohibited. The other girl, who altered her original plea of not guilty, admitted the theft of the frock and curtains. Chief-detective Young said the articles were found' at accused’s home in good condition. She' was out of work and had not previously come under the notice of the police. The girl’denied that she had entered, the house. “You both went there together and you are equally responsible,” replied his Worship, who admitted accused to probation for 12 months, the same condition as in the other case being imposed.