SHOPLIFTING ADMITTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 16

SHOPLIFTING ADMITTED.

FINE OF £lO IMPOSED.

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE.

A fino of £lO, in default 0110 month's imprisonment, was imposed in the Police Court yesterday on Christiana Palmer, aged 45, a married woman, who admitted the theft of a tablo runner, valued at £1 8s 6d, and a remnant, valued at 4s 6d, from a city store. The Mr. F. K. Hunt, suA] that but for the circumstances of the case ho would sentence accused to a term of imprisonment. When accused appeared in Court, the magistrate said that when lie had dealt leniently with a similar case last week ho had said another would be forthcoming.

Mr. Moody (who appeared for accused) : Your Worship was a true prophet. Sub-Inspector Shanahan said that -a shop-assistant noticed accused placing in her bag articles for which she had not paid. Ho detained her, and in a statement the only explanation she gave was that she had succumbed to a sudden temptation. A search of her houso showed nothing to indicate systematic stealing. Accused lived at Devonport a/id her husband was in fairly comfortable circumstances.

Mr. Moody said ho realised (ho difficulty which the magistrate faced in such cases. However, probation had been granted to a previous offender who had stolen from three shops'. In tho present case there was no evidence that the accused had stolen elsewhere. Sho had . never been before tho Court previously. As a result of the charge sho had been in custody for a night, and sho must have suffered considerable mental torture. Counsel added that a possiblo explanation of accused's lapse was that sho was at present in ill-health. Mr. Hunt: If I send her to gaol, I will probably have no more shoplifting cases for three months.

Major Gordon, of the Salvation Army, said sho had investigated accused's case, and sho was convinced there had been no previous thefts. The magistrate said that, in view of accused's condition and tho circumstances, he would not impose a. term of imprisonment. Accused would pay u fino of £lO, in default one month's imprisonment. An order was made for tho roturn of the property to tho owners.