THE WOODVILLE THEFT CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1251, 21 May 1918, Page 6

THE WOODVILLE THEFT CASE.

BLACKMAIL ALLEGED. The young woman, Martha Hutchins, who pleaded guilty ai the Magistrate's

Court, Woodville, 10 the theft of £565 4s 2d, the property of the Woodville County Council, was brought before His Honour Mr Justice Edwards yesterday, in the Wellington Supreme Court, for sentence. Mr M. Myers, who appeared for accused, stated that she had been employed by the Council as their clerk, and the misappropriation of moneys to the extent, of £565 was admitted. There, was not the slightest suspicion either from accused manner of living or from any other reason, that she was spending money not her own, or that she was misappropriating the money of her employer. Certain information had been given to the police, which if true, would indicate thai, the. woman was more sinned against, than sinning. Some few years ago, accused, an unmarried woman, gave birth to a child. A man whoso name, had been given to the police had obtained the information, and threatened to expose accused utiles.-, she gave him money. Money was given in him, and to another man, from time to time, to avoid exposure. The accused, Martha Hutchins, deposed that she hail a child in 1912. Her mis

appropriation of the moneys of the County Council began a little over two years ago. Sho did not know what the amount of the misappropriations was. Her salary was £llO a year. She did not use for her own purpose any of the money that was taken. A man told her that if she (accused) did Jiot give him money ho would disclose the fact of the birth of the child. She gave the man money on a number of occasions. Sho gave the name of the man to the police on Monday last. The man was killed in France. The first sho heard of his death was. in June of last year. She also made payments to another man who died at. Woodvillo a few weeks ago. Both men were getting money at lite same time. About two years ago the second man was given £93 in one week The first man died about Juno last, and after his death the other man came for more money, which sho paid. She thought he spent it in gambling. The money she took went in no other way than to the two men. Cross-examined by Mr Macassey, accused said that before the first man went away he often came for money —three or four times a week, sometimes. lie was given £35 out of the £560. He threatened to show accused up to the people of Woodville, if she did not give him the money. The two men knew each other. The second man died of consumption in March last. Witness saw him on a Sunday night about a week before he died. She was passing the house and saw him through a window; he was then in bod. It was after the. first man was killed that the greater portion of the money was given to the second man. Witness was ashamed to go to the police and complain that the men were blackmailing her.

Mr Macassov said that the case was a very extraordinary one, and asked His Honour for a remand to enable further investigations to be made. His Honour remanded accused for a fortnight.