WAITRESS AND CLERKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

WAITRESS AND CLERKS.

CUSTOMERS' CHEAP MEALS. RESTAURANT UNDER-OHARGES "NAUGHTY GIRL'S" OFFENCE. FEAST FOR A SHILLING. A waitress and two men were summoned by tho Aerated Bread Company, Limited, before Mr. Bingley, at a London police court recently, for conspiring together to cheat and defraud the company. Their names were given as Maud Bennett, Denis 11. Sharpley, and Norman Ginks. Bennett was further summoned for falsifying pay vouchers belonging to the company, her employers, and the two men, customers, were summoned for aiding and abetting her. Mr. Robinson appeared for Sharpley and Ginks, and pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting, and Mr. Palmer, for the prosecutors withdrew the charges of con-, spiracy. Bennett then pleaded guilty to falsifying twelve pay vouchers. Mr. Palmer said Bennett was employed at the prosecutors' restaurant. Tho two men were clerks in an establishment close by, and were customers. On several occasions Bennett charged them less than she ought to have done. The Magistrate (consulting a document) : She let Sharpley off lightly with a shilling one day instead of 2s 7d. The two men, Mr. Palmer added, always went into the restaurant together and sat at one of Bennett's tables. " I think the explanation is that sho took a funcy to them," ho said. Tho Magistrate: Not to both, surely. Mr. Palmer: Sho is very warm-hearted perhaps. Information came to the knowledge of the prosecutors, said Mr. Palmer, and they arranged for observation to bo kept. When Sharpley was spoken to by an inspector of tho firm, ho said, " I did not know I was undercharged. If I had known I would have paid." Tho Magistrate: That's all bosh. Do people who are undercharged on their bills point it out ? Mr. Palmer: 110 could not have been unaware that he was undercharged when ho was given tea, roll and butter, lettuce, strawberries avd cream, arid extra cream for a shilling. Gift of a Wireless Set. Bennett told the inspector, Mr. Palmer went on, that Sharpley had given her a wireless set, and sho iiad undercharged them ever since. Sharpley once said to her: "Don't you think you're taking a risk in undercharging us," and sho replied, " I suppose" so." Bennett told tho magistrate that she was ignorant of tho seriousness of what sho had done. Tho Magistrate: I often havo my food at the A.B.C. shops, but I am never undercharged. Bennett: I gained nothing by it. The Magistrate: Bo sensible and help me. lam trying to help you. Why did you undercharge these customers! Did yon lose your heart to them? Bennett: No" I only treated them well because they respected mo. The Magistrate: I hope I respect the young ladies in A.B.C. shops, but they do not let mo off like this. (Laughter). "She Has Been Very Naughty. Mr. Robinson agreed that Sharpley and Ginks had been guilty of dishonest and dishonourable conduct, for which there was no excuse, and he hoped they were thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Tho girl who had rather a hard time at home acted in gratitude for Sharpley's kindness to her. Sharpley was 27, and Ginks 17. They were employed by a wellknown publisher, who gave them good characters and would keep them in his employ. He pleaded with the magistrate not to send them to prison. A police officer said Bennett was 19, and was one of a family of ten, who were very poor. She felt her position keenly. The Magistrate: The two men were far the worse. The girl has been very naughty, but she has not got a quid pro quo. Tho magistrate bound Bennett over under the Probation of Offenders Act for twelve months. Sharpley was fined £5, and Ginks £2. Each was ordered to pay £3 3s costs.