THEFT IN CITY SHOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 12

THEFT IN CITY SHOP.

CASE AGAINST SALESMAN.

ARTICLES FOUND IN POCKETS.

PENALTY OF £!0 IMPOSED. A salesman, Joseph Hillary Mason, aged 27, was fined £lO in tho Police Court yesterday by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on two charges of theft from <1 city department, store. Tho offences wero comrnitt<yl «n" Friday ovoning, and the total value of the goods, which comprised small toilet articles, was 15s 9d. Mr. Aekins entered a plea of guilty to tho first chargo but tho socond was denied.

Sub-Inspector Shanahan stated that on Friday evening about 6.30 p.m. an assistant in the shop saw accused pick up a shaving brush from a counter, and also take a cigarette case. Sho informed another assistant, and accused was accosted. Ho paid for the shaving brush but denied having the cigarette case in his possession. When ho was arrested Mason admitted that ho had taken the cigarette case, and on search a number of other goods were found in his pockets unwrapped. On the way to the polico station ho attempted to break away from the sergeant who arrested him. After the two shop assistants concerned had given evidence Mr. Aekins changed his plea to one of guilty 011 tho second charge. "Nothing is known against accused," said Sub-Inspector Shanahan. "Ho is a married man living apart from his wife and child."

Counsel stated that accused was employed as a salesman by a city firm for whom ho had been working for only three days. Mason declared that ho was drunk at the time of the offences. As ho had no previous convictions counsel suggested that ho should lie placed on probation. "I will not give him probation; I will give him either a stiff fine or 14 days' imprisonment," the magistrate. "What is his character ?"

Tho probation oflicer, Mr. W. J. Campbell, stated that he knew nothing about accused, who had nover been before the Court previously.

Tho magistrate then imposed a fine of £lO, in default ono month's imprisonment. An application by counsel for time to pay was refused, and the goods were ordered to be returned to the owners.

CONVICTION OP WOMAN.

LEAVE TO APPEAL GRANTED. Leave to appeal was granted Mr. Bryce Hart in the Police Court yesterday when a married woman, Rosa Torzillo, aged 45, was fined £5 Is by Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., on a charge of.stealing a length of silk valued at Us 6d from a Queen Street shop on Friday evening. Mr. Hart ontered a plea of not guilty. A law clerk, Jean Weir, stated that she was near the silk counter in the shop on Friday evening. She saw accused, who was witli another woman, handling different pieces of silk, and later saw her adjusting her coat in a suspicious manner, although she did not see accused actually conceal anything under her-coat. A (low-walker, Frank Hobday, said ho asked Mrs. Torzillo and her companion to accompany him to the office.- She was indignant, but went with him. Witness led the way and another employee in the shop followed accused. The latter picked up a piece of silk near the office which witness had noL seen when he passed the spot.

| The oilier employes, Leonard Bradley, said that he had followed accused and her companion to the office. Just as he rounded a corner he saw the silk lying on the floor, but he could not say that it had" been dropped by either of the women, lie suspected, however, that accused had dropped it, as previously she had been holding her coat suspiciously with her right band. Mrs. G. Tcmpany said that she had been shopping with Mrs. Torzillo, and had been looking at silk with her. On the way to the office she was in front of accused and did not see the silk on the floor. She had not taken it or dropped it herself. Mrs. Torzillo did not have any handbag or money as slio had said that she had no intention of buying. Accused, in evidence, denied that she had taken the silk, stating that if she put her hand in her fcoat it was to reach her pocket handkerchief, which sho carried under her arm. as her coat had no pockets. She had no need to commit theft. She was a woman with three chil dren.

"I havo to convict this woman," said tho magistrate, who imposed a fine of £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. At tho request of counsel, who asked leave td lodge an appeal, the fine wa3 increased to £5 Is, and accused was al lowed seven days in which to mako payment.