WOMAN'S STRANGE STORY

Evening Star, Issue 22516, 8 December 1936, Page 8

WOMAN'S STRANGE STORY

DRINKING HEAVILY FOR WEEK BICYCLE TAKEN IN EARLY MORNING THE COURT PUZZLED [Feu United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. An extraordinary story of a married woman, who admitted taking two bicycles, but maintained that she knew nothing about either offence, was told in the Magistrate’s Court this morning* The woman, aged 46 years, whose name was suppressed, pleaded not guilty to stealing two women’s bicycles, each valued at £5. Evidence was given that at the time the offences were committed the woman had been drinking heavily for a week. Constable Taylor said that at 6.55 a.m. on Thursday he was called to the Chief Post Office. He saw a woman cycling quickly through the Plaza Lane. The postal night watchman said that she had stolen the bicycle. The accused looked as if she had been drinking for a considerable time. The statement made by accused after arrest was read._ She said she had left home that morning at 5.45 to get beer, and before she went out she nad two large glasses of home-made wine; She thought the bicycle at the Post Office was her own, which had been stolen a week previously. In evidence, the woman said she could remember her arrest, but did not know what she was arrested for. She had not been drinking much. She did not remember why she went out so early in the morning, nor that she had made a statement to the police. As for the second bicycle, she knew nothing about it, and she could not say where it came from. To the magistrate, Mr Mosley, accused said the wine was brewed from wheat. . The Magistrate said it was difficult to come to an estimate of accused’s state of mind. He thought the best thing would be to adjourn the case sine die so that accused could be watched.