JEWELLERY THEFTS AT PARTY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 5

JEWELLERY THEFTS AT PARTY

THREE WOMEN CHARGED. CALLED “DRUNKEN PRANK.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 2. Submission that a theft of jewellery was the result of what counsel described as “ a drunken prank, ’ that the accused were not possessed ot a criminal mind and that there was a complete absence of mens vea were advanced bv counsel in the Magistrate s Court to-day_when three young married women were charged wit)} the tnext of five rings and a necklace of the value of £3B 10s, belonging to the who of Squadron-Leader G. L. Stedman, oi tile Wellington Aero ' üb. The (accused were Valma Smden, Mona Amalrie and Eileen ™ was stated on their behalf that they had taken the jewellery while at a party at Stedman’s house, not knowing what they were doing. Realising their ■position later, ■t): ! ey endeavoured to return the articles and actually handed them over to a man, George Alexander Low. a icanvasser, aged 31 to post. The rings were not received by the Stedmans. The women chose* to he dealt witn summarilv while Low, who was charged also with theft, elected by be tried by the Supreme Court. Ihe women were admitted to probation for two vears an application for the suppression of their names being refused. A statement by la>\v that- he had posted the jewel lei* v on M*a*rch L and could not understand its not arming, was wail. Further evidence against him will be hoard to-morrow. It was stated in evidence that SteilI man and his wife had permitted memborsi of the Aero Club to use then home for a party and were not themselves present.