“A SHABBY THEFT”

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 4

“A SHABBY THEFT”

STOLE FROM FELLOW-WORKER YOUNG WOMAN GIVEN A CHANCE “ This is a shabby theft and you deserve a sharp lesson,” said the magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) when Audrey Wilma Denzel Birtles appeared in the Police Court to-day charged with the theft of two rings valued at £2O, the property of Jean Adam Sherlaw and another. The magistrate told the accused, who pleaded guilty, that she would be given a chance to make good, however, and she was admitted to probation for a year, being ordered to make restitution of the value of one ring, valued at £5. Chief-detective Holmes, who prosecuted, told the court that the accused was a young married woman, 19 years of age, and her husband, who was 20, was at present in a military camp. She was employed in thc_ South Otago Hospital as a kitchonmaid, and a few days after she had taken np her duties another employee missed a ring valued at £5. The accused left at 9.30 a.m. ‘on November 22, and soon after she had gone another ring was missed. The chief-detective said that the Balciutha police communicated with Dunedin, and Detective Marsh interviewed the accused, who denied the offence and agreed to a search being made. This revealed nothing, hut a watch was kept on the accused, who was seen to be wearing the rings. The accused was interviewed again by Detective Marsh, and admitted the offences. One ring was recovered and another valued at £5 was missing. “ What did you do with the other ring?” the magistrate asked the accused, who replied that she had thrown it away because she got “ panicky ” ami didn’t know what to do with it. The accused was then dealt with as stated. i