SERIES OF CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 2

SERIES OF CHARGES

Sixteen charges (10 of them being joint prosecutions) were preferred against George Alfred Aldridge, mill-hand, of Foxton (Mr Gordon) and Grace Dorothy Jensen, mill-hand, also of Foxton (Mr Ongley), in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The charges alleged the theft and receiving of stolen goods and involved a total of £4] 13s lid. Mr 11. P. Lawry, S.M., presided. Detective-Sergeant Power said the two accused came to Palmerston North on July 27. They left a bag at the shop of a Chinese and when they returned took another bag which was there. The next day the woman accused was seen wearing a frock which bad been in the stolen bag and it was as a, result of inquiries made regarding Ibis that the present series of charges arose. The two accused bad been visiting many shops, “shoplifting like a pair of magpies,” be said. As lo 1 lie charges of receiving, a bouse in Foxton had been broken into and a good deal of property taken home by children of the male accused. It contained a valuable ring which the female accused was wearing. The rest of the property was hidden in the ceiling and the male accused had assisted bis children lo escape detection. He was 35 years of age and was married, with nine children. The female accused presented a dillicuit problem and was obviously of a weak character. She had been directed to work at Foxton and bad boarded with the Aldridge family. She was aged 25. There was no doubt that she lmd “walked into a very nasty spot at Foxton.” Mr Ongley said that Jensen had come under an evil influence in the homo at Foxton and she was completely under the domination of the male accused. Ilor father would take care of her if she was admitted to probation. Mr Gordon said Aldridge took the main blame. He did not, however, know anything of the thefts by the children until they had been committed. 110 had not been in trouble for eight years and. his wife still hoped there was a possibility of reforming him. Mr Lawry admitted the woman accused to probation for two years, on two of the charges, a condition being that she must reside in Fcilding and remain away from Foxton. She was convicted and discharged on the others. Aldridge was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on two of Ihe charges, the terms to be cucumulative, and he was' convicted and discharged on tho others.