GIRL’S SCHOLARSHIP MONEY

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1933, Page 8

GIRL’S SCHOLARSHIP MONEY

JUDGE & “TEMPTATION” LONDON, May 21. Mrs Edith Stapleton (40), wife of an agricultural labourer and the mother of seven children, who lives at Castle Acre, Norfolk, applied in the Court, of Criminal Appeal yesterday for leave to appeal against the conviction at the King’s Lynn Quarter Sessions on charges of false pretences and forgery. She had been sentenced by Sir William Bagge, deputy-chairman, to six months’ hard labour. Mr. Roger North, for Mrs Stapleton, said that the allegation against her was that, having been allowed <£6 a year by Norfolk Education Authority for the provision of clothes for her daughter, who had won a scholarship, Mrs.' Stapleton had not spent a part of the money as directed, and had forged tradesmen’s bills. The woman occupied a three-room-ed cottage with her husband and children. The husband was often, out of work. She conceived the idea that L>> <* year to spend on the.clothes for one daughter was excessive, and she bought all the girl needed from pedlars and travelling tradesmen instead of from shopkeepers. She put what remained of the money to balance the family budget. Mr Justice Humphreys: The Jtuy strongly recommended her to mercy. Lord Dewart: And she is -forty years of age, with no previous complaint against her. Mr. North: That is so.

Mr. Justice Avery said: “It seems to be clear that it would be much better, to avoid the temptation to which this woman succumbed, if the commil tee insists on the accounts of tradesmen being submitted direct to them for payment. There is no question that, this woman did obtain, for years, cheques from Hie committee, by altering tradesmen’s receipts. In view of the strong recommendation of Hie jury, and of all the circunistances <>f the case, the Court has come to the conclusion (hat the sentence might be properly reduced to two months’ imprisonment in the. Second Division. The sentence will run from the date of conviction, which means that the appellant will have to serve another fourteen days.”