BRAZEN SHOPLIFTING

NZ Truth, Issue 881, 14 October 1922, Page 4

BRAZEN SHOPLIFTING

■ ♦— — ~ — Davis and Her Skipper The remarkable exploits of two young women who ' admitted a series of thefts from shops were detailed to Magistrate Poynton,' when Elsie Davis and Bertha Bvis Vivian occupied the dock.ioßoth accused were represented by Lawyer Sullivan. : The offenders were charged witli the. theft of two skirts, valued at £5 19s;. from John Court, Ltd., and .Davis was also charged with the theft of two ■ skirts and a dress valued aY £10 Bs, a. silk jumper worth- £6 6s dress material worth £3 10s, and £ hairbrush valued at £1 15s. The evidence and story of the accused's, exploits was contained- m signed statements made to Detectivo MeikiejohnV which were, read m Court. ; Davis m her statement . said that she lived at Morningside, and she and '-Vivian had known each. other for some years. For the. past six weeks she had.. been, m., Auckland: and. out of work. One clay she' made an appoint' ■ment with Vivian; who lived at Devonport,: . and after they had somi lunch m the city they went to Milne and Ghoyce's shop, where she (Davis) STOLE 'A FEATHER NECKLET and a couple of other articles. The day previously Vivian ., had asked her to steal a brown fur' for her. Leaving Milne and- Chpyce's, Vivian asked her to go across to McKenzi'e's toy. shop, and while m the shop Vivian took a hairbrush and asked her to put it ir her basket. She did so, and they lefi the shop. They then went to John Court's, whera Vivian said she was going- to get a frock. She examined, a frock, but told the shop assistant she did not want it. However, to. Davis she said, "Get that frock for me," and she got it, also takiiig two skirts, and they left the shop without paying. From Court's they went to Mrs. Walker's fancy goods shop m the Strand Arcade, -and Davis was stowing a fancy jumper' under her coat when 'one of the jyirls m the shop noticed her- ' . . I Vivian's signed statement, which she signed m '. THE NAME OF SKIPPER, set out that she was a married woman living apart from her husband. Her story was that she did not see Davis take ' any articles from Milne and Choyce's, but said that she herself went to McKenzie's to. buy a mirror, and while, being shown some she saw Davis pull a hairbrush down, but did not notice her put it m. the basket. It was on the suggestion of Davis that they went to John Court's, a.nd when there Davis • remarked, "That I ? 'a nice frock." She did 1 not soe Davis take the frock, but she ; put two skirts into the. basket, which she had under her coat. Davis covered the goods m the basket with a piece . of brown paper, and Vivian said, "We had better get out of this as quickly as possible." When they got outside the basket was fairly full, and she (Vivian) carried it over to Walker's, m the Arcade. She knew nothing of ■ the stolen frock until it was emptied out of the basket m Mrs. Walker's shop, where a girl caught Davis with a jumper under her coat. In answer to ' Mr. Sullivan, DeteGtive Meiklejohn, who read the statements, said' that . liothing- wat 3 previously known against either of the accused, and all the stolen property had been recovered. ■ Mr, Sullivan said the accused elected summary jurisdiction, and pleaded guilty. The action of the accused' m going- round the shops thieving goods was not understandable, as they had m i-l\s y ' Worship remarked that they ; had £9, but the value of the goods ! W Mr. Sullivan said it was difficult to explain their -action.. They haft risked ruin by stealing clothes, they could • not possibly, wear. It was a peculiar STUDY IN CRIMINOLOGY. The °'irl Davis was engaged' to be married but her fiancee declared he would stick to her just the same, as he knew dishonesty was not one o her characteristics. Counsel aked that both accused be placed on probation, ami that they should not be sent to ° -r iol ■ • "*Hi's Worship paid there was nothing to Hh ow they h&a beon shoplifting rvrpviouslv Jt was their first a Pl >ear - ?i?e m Court, and he would, thereive treat them as first oftcnuers. -They would be placed on probation fm- two years, all their amusements to be supervised by the women's probation office' 1 '