SHOPLIFTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1929, Page 9

SHOPLIFTING

MARRIED COUPLE’S OPERATIONS

A woman’s devotion to her husband was demonstrated in the Police Court at Liverpool, when Henry Wright, 53, village postmaster and keeper of a general store at Thelwall, Lymm, Cheshire, and Agnes Wright, 46, his wife, were charged with shoplifting at Woolworth’s store. It was alleged that the couple stole a variety of articles with the object of selling them later at their store.

The woman was advised by the magistrate's clerk that it would be a good defence if she pleaded that she was in the company of her husband and acted under his direction.

’ “I would rather take the chance,” she replied. “I do not want to put anything on my husband. I would rather say he was under my influence if it would help him at all.” Mrs Wright pleaded for leniency for the sake of hex* little girls and her home. The bench imposed fines to £l5 each, or two months’ imprisonment, stating that the shops must b.e protected from the serious pilfering that was going on. The woman would go to prison if she refused to pay. The Husband: No. We will find the money.

The Woman (firmly): I will go to prison. The Husband: No, I can’t do without you.

The Woman (as she turned to leave the dock): Igo to prison. The man threw his arms about his wife and kissed her, pleading all the while, but she broke away from him and descended the steps to the cells, while her husband left the dock weeping. A few minutes later the woman was brought back into court and said she had changed her mind. She was then allowed ten days to pay her fine, and the couple left the court together.