THEFT OF CLOTHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 12

THEFT OF CLOTHING

YOUNG DOMESTIC IN COURT EMPLOYER'S DRESS WORN A half-caste Maori girl, who was stated to have taken an evening gown belonging to her employer and worn it to a dance at Hobson Street, appeared in the Police Court before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday. Accused was Ata (Kthel) Tapsell-O'Calagan, a domestic, aged 17, and she was charged with the theft of an evening frock and a pair of kid gloves, of a total value of £lO. and two dresses and three pairs of stockings, of a total value of £5 12s, the property of Maria Doff. Accused, who was not represented bv counsel, pleaded guilty to the first charge, but denied the second. Detective Whitehead stated that when interviewed concerning the alleged offences accused admitted wearing the e ening dress to a party, and she also admitted selling the other two frocks for 5s and 2s 6d respectively, and the three pairs of stockings for Is each. However, accused later withdrew her admission concerning the latter-charge. "Accused is aged 17 years 4 months and both her parents are dead," said Senior-Detective Hall. "She attended the Hukarere Maori Girls' College, Napier, for two years and sat for the matriculation examination. She has been in Auckland for some months and has been associating with criminals and keeping company with a married man living apart from his wife." Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon. She was ordered to remain in a home at Waikowhai during that period.