POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13368, 24 December 1906, Page 4

POLICE COURT NEWS.

FEMALE SHOP-LIFTERS.

A SERIES OF THEFTS. At the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., Annie Lang, a young married woman, was charged with having stolen a pair of shoes valued at 15s 6d, the properly of George Morrow Taylor, and receiving a silk skirt valued at £1 6s Sd from Ellen Thomas, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. She was also charged with having .stolen a bottle of lavender water from Ifore Pascoe, a pair of shoes valued at lis 6d from George Higgins, a pair of shoes valued at 17s 6d from W. M. Pritchard, and a muslin blouse valued at 10s lid from George Court. - Ellen Thomas was charged with stealing a .silk skirt valued at £1 6s 9d the property of J. A. Brad street, a pair of boots valued at. 18s 6d the- property of George Higgins, and a blouse valued at 12s 6d the property of John Court. Nina Olive Dye was charged with stealing two silk skirts valued at £2 13s 6d the property of J. A. Braclstreet, a, pair of boots valued at 16s 6d the property of W. M. Pritchard, and a blouse valued at £1 5s the property of John Court. Helen Dye was charged with having received front Nina olive Dye a skirt valued at £1 6s 9d, and a pair of shoes valued at 17s 6d. knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Also, with having received from the first accused a. pah- of shoes valued at 15s 6d. All the accused '.in 1 young married women. Chief-Detective Marsack said that systematic shop-lifting had been going on. The method adopted was for one of the accused women to go into the shop with a baby, make a small purchase, and when, the assistant's back was tunned to .steal boots, lace, etc. When they were found out their houses were searched, and the articles enumerated in the charges were found therein. Mr. Sharpies appeared on behalf of the four women, who pleaded guilty. In Mrs. Langs case, Mr. Sharpies said it was one in which a woman had been suddenly tempted to steal. Finding the first theft so easy, she did not. stop there. It was probably a good thing that she had been caught iso soon. In the ease of Mrs. Thomas, counsel said there was -io reason why she should have committed the offences, as her husband kept her well provided for. Mr. Kettle said there was no doubt a good deal of shop-lifting going on at this time of the year. He would adjourn the cases until January 9, so that the probation officer's- report might be*obtained. All the accused were allowed bail on their own recognisance. NEIGHBOUR'S DIFFERENCES. Harry Campbell'Lock was charged with assaulting Samuel A. Tilly by catching hold of him by the throat. Both men are residents of' Albany. The complainant said that on a recent Sunday he was passing the defendant's house in a trap, when he heard the defendant make some hideous noises. Litter in the evening, whilst walking out with Ids wife, the defendant met him, grabbed him by the throat, and hit him on the head with a gun which he usually carried. He considered that Lock was a lunatic.

Constable Eccles thought that Lock was eccentric.

The defendant said that he had grabbed Tilly by the coat- ami not by the throat. He did not hit him with the gun, but held it up in order that it might not touch him. He made the noise to frighten birds away. His Worship convicted the defendant and ordered him to -keep the peace.

ALLEGED THEFT OF A BICYCLE. Thomas "Morgan, a, dark-skinned young man, was remanded for a week on a charge of stealing a. bicycle, valued at £5, the property of Isaac Brown, of Waibi. . DRUNKENNESS. -: Four first offenders for drunkenness were convicted ..and' discharged on, payment of 2s 6d cab fare; and William Mackay, .a. fireman, was' fined 10s for a second offence within six: months.....