WOMAN MAGISTRATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26040, 2 January 1946, Page 8

WOMAN MAGISTRATE

SENTENCES PASSED ON FIRST OFFENDERS QUASHED BY APPEAL TRIBUNAL LONDON, Dec. 1. Five women, all first offenders, who were sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment by Miss Sybil Campbell, the only woman stipendiary magistrate in Britain, who sits at Tower Bridge Court, London, will not go to gaol. They will each pay a fine of £5 instead. The sentences were quashed by London Sessions Appeal Tribunal. One of the defending counsel, Mr Alban Gordon, implored the committee not to" let such sentences stand. The women • were employed by the Southern Railway as porters, and were concerned in petty thefts or unlawful possession. “ I do not seek to disguise the reprehensible nature of their conduct," said Mr Gordon, “ but one should not lose one’s sense of proportion in these things.” After the chairman, Mr Eustace Fulton. had announced the court's decision, and had agreed that the women should have 21 days in which to find the money, they all said: ‘‘Thank you, Sir," and trooped out crying. The women and their offences were:

Lily Lovell and Alice Maud Ridge, stealing five packets of shampoo powder, value 2s 6d. Katherine Louisa Davis, stealing a pot of face cream, value IOId. Jane Elen Clarke and Johanna Donovan, being in unlawful possession of a box of face powder and two packets of shampoo powder, suspected of having been stolen, value Is lOd. They were all given good characters by the police. While their case was waiting to be heard the women sat in the jury seats nervously whispering. After the hearing they gathered in the hall to talk over how they were going to raise the £25 among them. Mrs Lovell, who is 38, said that her husband was due home from abroad for demobilisation soon and she wanted to give a party. Miss Donovan, who is only 21, is the eldest of a large family. The ■ Rev. F. O'Brien, a Catholic priest, said she; had been “ mother and father ” to them since her parents died seven years ago. Mr M. Nicholas said he could produce a testimonial on behalf of Mrs Clarke which said she had served one firm for 14 years with nothing against her.