WOMAN CONVICTED

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1941, Page 2

WOMAN CONVICTED

SHOPLIFTING CHARGES. An elderly woman, resident at Dobson (Mr W.' D, Ta.Hor) pieacted gu.lty to two charges oi rnefi.. at a sitting of the Magistrates court at Gieyniouiii yesterday morning, when M.i G. G. Chisholm. S.M., presided. She was charged tnat on June 2i, at Greymouth, she did commit theft of one pair of football uoots, valueu a[ 15s 6d, from the Wholesale Booc Warehouse, Greymouth, and that sue did commit theft of one pair of shoes va.ued at 15s 6d, the propertv of R Hannah and Co., Greyrnouth Sergeant W. Cooper, who prosecuted. said that at 6.15 p.ip., June 27, on Friday night, a lemaie employee of Hannah’s heard a rattle .of the poie holding boots in the recess in front of the building, and on going out she saw defendant looking at the bools. Shortly afterwards the rattle was heard again, this time bv a male employee, and when hp investigated, he found that a pair of shoes, size 2, had been taken. He also saw defendant walking south down Tainui Stz-eet. The police were communicated with and Constable Johnston arrived at the scene. He then proceeded along Tainui Street with an employee from Hannah’s and when he reached Chapel Street, be saw defendant take the shoes out of her bag-and wrap them in brown paper (produced). The Constable then accosted defendant and informed her of the allegations made against her Defendant then asked the Constable to be human and let he r go as she had just received news from her son, in the armed forces. She also attempted to bribe him. However, the constable took her along to the Police Station. On the way she dropped a bottle of beer from her bag and when passing the Tin Ton Milk Bar, she went in and left a parcel in there. The smp oyee following the constable saw her, however, and brought the parcel to him She gave her name to the constable as Elizabeth James. 15 Shakespeare Street, and told nim (Sergeant) that she lived at 15 Shakespeare Street. However, it was proved that the name was assumed and the address wrong. On neing searched at the station, defendant was found to have two bottles of Dewar’s whisky in her possession. One bottle had had several nips taken out of it. He (the Sergeant) was quite sure that drink was the cause of defendant’s behaviour She lived in Dobson, and was a recipient of Social Security. Mr Taylor said that defandont had only received news from her son. who was overseas, and had celebrated. The boots stolen were of no value to her. There was .one previous conviction on a similar charge, but she had been much better since then. He asked that defendant be given leniency and asked that an application be made. Defendant was 63 years of age, and married. Her husband lived apart. In reply to the Magistrate, Sergeant Cooper said that, the goods were not damaged. There was a previous conviction. The Magistrate asked if defendant was addicted to drink. Mi* Taylor: From what she told, me —definitely not. She just came into town to celebrate the good news and got into trouble, The Magistrate said that under the circumstances defendant would be convicted and ordered to come uP for sentence if called upon, within 12 months. Orders were made for the r< turn of the stolen .goods, and for the suppression of defendant’s name.