STUPID ACT

Evening Star, Issue 22638, 3 May 1937, Page 8

STUPID ACT

THEFT OF £SO NOTE YOUNG WOMAN BEFORE MAGISTRATE The finish of the case in which a £SO note was tendered in a local shop as a 10s note and was afterwards given to another customer as 10s change, which note was subsequently cashed by the cutomer, who was then aware of the mistake that had taken place, was heard in the Police Court this morning. A 21-year-old girl, whose name was suppressed by the magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.), and who whs remanded from last week on a charge of the theft of a £SO note, pleaded guilty. She was represented by Mr C. J, White. Chief-detective Young said that the complainant, who was a woman in poor circumstances, had just received a legacy, including the note in question. She called at a city shop, making a ourhaso and tendering the note in payment under the impression that it was a 10s note. The shopgirl did not notice that it was a £SO note, and later gave it to another customer as part of her change out of a £1 note. Later two women were in a milk bar in George street when two other women came in and tendered the proprietor a £SO note Their attention was drawn to it when the proprietor said he could not-change it. The woman who tendered the note said she had received it in a_ city shop, and the other two women in the bar advised her to go to the police station and report the matter. Afterwards she was met by these two women, who asked her if she had been to the police, but she did not reply Subsequently she was found by a detective, and she made a statement. The note had then been cashed, but she refused to say where she had changed it. _ _ Mr White said he was in a position to make restitution of the total amount, which was only £49 10s, the other 10s belonging to the city shop. ' Accused tendered a £1 note in the shop, and was given t’’" £SO note as part of her change, b-- ’ nit was recognised as a large sum ju the milk bar she said where she received it, so sho_ evidently had not thought of committing theft. She was tempted, however, and foolishly succumbed. The matter had affected her in the position she was studying for. Unless the £SO notes issued Tn this country were changed there would be an endless sea of trouble in New Zealand. Chief-detective Young: There are at least two others implicated in this matter, but they are brave enough to sit back and watch this girl get into trouble. The Magistrate remarked that the circumstances were peculiar. It was not until the accused tried to cash the note that she became aware of its real value, but her subsequent act was that of a stupid, foolish, young woman. He would be justified in applying the conditions of the Probation Act, but he would adjourn the case for 12 months on condition that the accused was. of good behaviour and that restitution of £49 10s be made to the police.