WOMAN CONVICTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 16

WOMAN CONVICTED

SHOPLIFTING CHARGE REMANDED IN CUSTODY COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE A married woman, Frances Maitland, aged 38, appeared oil summons before Mr. C. It. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday in answer to a charge of stealing a pair of slippers and a pair of stockings, of a total value of lis sd, the property of a city firm. Accused, who was represented by Mr. Schramm, pleaded not guilty. • . ' • Two assistants employed in a city store said accused and another woman •came to the shop on the morning of July 30. Accused examined a pair of silk , stockings, which she rejected for purchase, but it was subsequent!}- discovered that the stockings were missing from the counter. Accused .was followed to another department, she was stopped with a pair of slip-.. pers under her coat. She had not gone willingly to the office when requested.. Meanwhile, her companion disappeared. " - Reading a statement obtained from accused, Detective Ma hood said accused stated that she and another woman examined the stockings together and were walking to a glove counter when accused's companion handed her, a pair of unwrapped stockings, which she placed in her bag. Mr. Maliood said extensive inquiries had been made for" the other woman without success. Giving evidence, accused said she did not have the slippers under her coat and had every intention of paying for them. She denied that the stockings found in her bag when she was questioned in the shop office were the same pair shown to her at the counter. "1 am satisfied that if the other woman handed accused the stockings they were working hand in hand," "said the magistrate. "Accused must have known that those stockings had been stolen by the other woman. There is any amount of evidence that she in-< tended to purloin the slippers. Therefore, she must be convicted." Detective-Sergeant McHugh said accused had never been in Court before. Her husband had deserted her 11 years ago. "My inclination is to sentence her to imprisonment, although this is her first offence," said the magistrate. "This deliberate shoplifting is serious. However, I order her to be remanded in custody until Thursday. I may then be prepared to consider admitting her to probation on strict terms."