HONESTY ON CONDITION.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 9

HONESTY ON CONDITION.

WOMAN THIEF WHO ' SAYS SHE MUST HAVE MONEY. On the condition that someone guaranteed she was never-/'hard-up " in future, an incorrigible w.oman thief, Nancy Taylor, 2.9, promised the Court of Criminal Appeal tha^; she would never steal again. Taylor was appealing against sentence of 12« niQnths,' hard labour passed upon her for stealing a gown -from a London store. .

Mr Justice Humphreys, who delivered- the decision of the Court,' related that ■''during "the last six or seven^ years appellant had been convicted 11 times, and rhad been to gaol for terms of 12 and six monthes. She now. pleadedi that •she had. an irresistible impulse to steal* whenever she was Out.of cash. ''.If I had had plenty of money," she had written to the Court in-her notice of appeal, "I should never had stolen.'' She added. that it was very. hai*oi that, she should have to go to prison simply, because she could-not keep -her hands off any article she saw at a; time when she had no money to spend. " His lordship added that Taylor had another grievance and: that was that sha never received any assistance when sh? left prison. Such, an aliegation could1, not be accepted aS'true, for she-had been, handed small sums by the Piisonefs' Aid Society and had been .offered a horhe in ..their hostel until she ::f ound , work. She seemed to regard that offer as at i'HHalt, ana; Instead of accepting sueii l.c}p nref erred aga.ia to t;iieve as soon as ilie j.: al gates closed beliind her. Her appeal was a hopeless one ana:, would be dismissed..