‘THIRD DEGREE’ ALLEGATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1934, Page 10

‘THIRD DEGREE’ ALLEGATIONS

INQUIRY AGENT AND SHOP GIRLS. “Allegations of “third degree" methods by private inquiry agents in questioning shop assistants were made at London Sessions recently when M;t.y Taylor, a. shop assistant, pleaded not. guilty to embezzling £1 received by her on account, of her employers, “The Outsize House, Ltd.,” of Clapha m. For the prosecution it was stated that, a woman bought a dress and handed 59/6 to Miss Taylor, who gave a, receipt for that amount. It was alleged that the duplicate receipt handed by Miss Taylor to the cashier was for 39/6. -

Charles Herbert King, an investigator employed by E. R. Lodge, of Re-gent-street, W., in reply to Mr. J. Maude, defending, said if there were voluntary restitution his firm got half the amount repaid. An interview between .Miss Taylor, Mr. Ness (director-manager of the shop), and himself lasted one and three-quarter hours. He questioned Miss Taylor for forty-five minutes, and she denied having committed an offence. Witness said he remembered his firm being “badly libelled” in a weekly paper.

“Do you remember this passage: “Ono monstrous aspect revealer! in many of these cases under review is the fact that victims have been induced under third degree methods to sign statements admitting guilt, though they were deliberately tricked into lapses”?—Yes. The article was headed “Sinister Shop Spy Plots,” yet no action was aken al. all, and not even a writ issued? —None. Mr. King said, after being questioned for ninety-five minutes, Miss Taylor signed the following at. his dictation: —

“I, May Taylor, hereby confess that during the past five years I have stolen money from the cash sales at an average rate of 15s a. week, making a total . mount of £195. 1 make this statement freely, without threat or promise on the part of anyone, but. I know it may be used as an instrument against me.” The jury found Taylor guilty, ami the chairman, Sir Percival Clarke, sentencing tier to six months in the second division, said the evidence thoroughly justified the verdict.