POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17125, 2 April 1919, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

GUILTY OF "SHOP-LIFTING."

MARRIED WOMAN'S LAPSE.

A charge of "shop-lifting" was preferred against a young married woman at tho Police Court yesterday, when charged before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., with the theft of a remnant of tabalco, valued at 6s lOd, the property of Bridgeman and Briflgeman. The accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Wohlmann said that a plain-clothea constable, who was stationed opposite the premises of Bridgraan and Bridgman, saw tho accused leave the shop and take the remnant from a fixture placed outside. The police received many complaints of "shop-lifting," whioh was very prevalent in Auckland. Mr. Moody said the accused, who had just spent about £1 in the shop, succumbed to a sudden impulse, for which she could not account, as the piece of cloth was not needed by her. Counsel suggested that she had been sufficiency punished by being brought before the Court. The magistrate said he did not believe in imposing a fine for theft, but in the circumstances he did not consider tho i accused, who apparently had had the ! gravity of tho offence impressed on her, i merited imprisonment. She would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within six months. THEFT OF A BANGLE. , That she had stolen a bangle, valued at 22s 6d, and that she had attempted to steal a ring, valued at 365, tho property of Moss Bobinson, was denied by a young woman, Margaret Sallen (Mr. Moody). Evidence was adduced to - show that accused, while partially under the influence of liquor, entered the shop of Moss Eobinson, pawnbroker, and asked ', for the bangle, which had been pledged jby her,. She then took a ring from the . window and refused to put it lack, ( whereupon it was forcibly taken from her | pocket by the shop assistant. When i asked for the money for the bangle, she I declared that she had already paid. She 1 then loft the shop, and, when arrested, was wearing the trinket. She was a widow with three children, whom she supported out of her earnings. The accused was convicted on each charge and admitted to probation for 12 j months. For procuring liquor while proI hibited, she was convicted and discharged.

YOUTHS IN TROUBLE. Charges of theft were preferred against three youths. One, Lawrence -0. Sanders, aged 18, was charged with the theft of several tools, valued at 32s 9d, the property of Wingate and Company. Alexander Franehie, aged 16 (Mr. McLiver), was charged with the theft of two electric lamps, valued at 5s 6d, and 12 electric light globes, valued at 335, the property of the National Electrical Engineering Company. Ira Murray, aged 19, was charged with the theft of two Columbia dry cells, valued at 7s, and 14 electric light globes, valued at £1 18s 6d, the property of the National Electrical Engineering Company. The last-named accused was also charged with receiving one coil of insulated electric light wire, valued at £1 12s, well knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. The circumstances showed that Sanders was sent to Wingate and Company to carry out some work, and took the tools. Franchio sold the 12 lamps to Murray for 14s, and at the request of the latter, he included two extra globes. Tho money was converted to his own use.

Sanders and Franehie were admitted to pr bat ion for 12 m nths. Murray was admitted to probation for two yours* on tho charge of stealing 14 electric light globes, and was ordered to come up for sentenco if called upon within two years on each of the other charges. He was also ordered to make restitution. ~~

MISCELLANEOUS. A fine of £10 was imposed on David Morning for having used obscene language within the hearing of passers-by in Hodson Street. The magistrate said he would have sentenced accused to a term of imprisonment but for certain circumstances. Morning was also convicted of drunkenness, an offence for which he was prohibited. Charles E. Challoner was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and for having committed mischief by wilfully damaging a pane of glass, valued at 355, ho was convicted and ordered to pay the amount of the damage. It was stated that the accused fell through the window while drunk.

For drunkenness, Beatrice N. A. Selwyn was fined 20s.