Warning to Shop-Lifters

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10728, 27 October 1928, Page 5

Warning to Shop-Lifters

MAGISTRATE REFUSES TO SUPPRESS NAME.

(Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Oct. 26. “To suppress this woman’s nanie would be to let her go free. She has admitted a charge of shoplifting, which is a serious thing. She is too old to have given way to a sudden impulse. She should have known better. If 1 suppress her name from the newspapers, she would not be punished at all. Publicity is the only thing shoplifters- do not like. They would pay a £SO fine rather than see their name in print. Magistrates in some cities gaol accused without even the option. of a line.” This statement was made by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court, when he convicted and fined Elsie May Fear, married, aged 47 years, £lO on a charge of theft. He refused to suppress her name. Default in payment of the fine was fixed at one month’s imprisonment and an order was made for the return of the goods to the owner. Suspected of shoplifting, accused had been watched in a city store on Thursday afternoon, according to Chief Detective Hammond. A detective who approached her found she had stolen goods in her possession. in fining accused the Magistrate remarked on the gravity of the offence and refused counsel’s application for tlie suppression of her name. ' “but she has a family, sir,” said counsel. • , ~ The Magistrate: “She should have thought of them before. I might suppress the name of a slip of a girl*who steals a- gaudv bit of finery,’ but not the name of a mature’ woman who should know better.”-