GOODS GOT BY FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18964, 11 March 1925, Page 12

GOODS GOT BY FRAUD.

MARRIED WOMEN'S CRIME. COURT EXTENDS PROBATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday A caso presenting some sad features was heard at Stratford, when two young married women, one of whom appeared in Court with a baby in her arms, were charged with obtaining goods under false pretences, the charge arising out of what counsel called "the foolish manoeuvres of the women to obtain goods that they could not have got otherwise." The publication of the women's names was forbidden. One of the accused was charged with obtaining goods valued at 19s 6d from P. C. Alger, and the other with obtaining goods valued at £2 13s from W. Mclnnes. Both were jointly charged with obtaining goods valued at .Cl 5 15s Id from R. H. White. They elected to be dealt with summarily and pleaded guilty. Detect!ve-Sergeant Coonev said thai both tho accused were married women with families, and they were living apart from their husbands, the one staying with the other. Thev went to Stratford on January 15. and using a public telephone rang up White's and ordered goods 111 the name. of the wife of a Stratford ' resilient. They took the goods, which comprised sheeting, etc., to Haw era, where they were living, and ! then considered that they had ordered too much, so they sent, back goods to tho value of ill 9s 4d. Since then one ot the accused had sent a postal note for 20s to White's and had handed three pairs of sheets to the police. When interviewed the accused had both admitted obtaining the goods tinder false, pretences. The sum of .CI had been sent to Mr. Mclrmes. hut there was still owing il4 6s 2d to Mr. White and £1 fls to Mr. Mclnnes. Tho police, knew nothing against tho women prior to this case, but the accused had gone about the matter in a systematic manner that would lead to something more serious if persisted in. In admitting both lo probation lor six months the magistrate, stressed the point that it was not only the question of punishing the individual offenders that, had to be considered, but also of protecting the public, by preventing others from committing similar offen..es. Were it a case of ordinary shoplifting he would have refused | the benefits of probation to the accused. One condition of the probation would be that the accused must, not, confer or associate during their period of probation and that the u.mouiit due to Mr. Mclnnes must be paid. An order was also made for the return of the goods.