Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2514, 21 May 1902, Page 30

charge of, on the 7th May, at Inch VaJley, unlawfully etealing from the hawker's van of one John Warwood a cash box (value 7s 6d), containing the sum of £22 X4s lid, a silver watch '(value £2), a silver locket (value ss), and postage stamps (value 6s), of the total value of £25 18s sd, and a cheque for £7 on the Bank of New Zealand at Palmerston.

Mr Hanlon, who appeared: for the accused, jaid the case was a very pitiful one. The ftcensed was a married woman residing with her husband at Shag Valley. She bad lived there a. great number of years, and her husband was a hard-working man, employed in Mr Biley's mill on the banks of the Shag River. ,rt appeared that the man from whom the cash-box and money were stolen was a hawker —a travelling vamnan — who put up at Wright's place on the night of the 7th inst. and got a meal there. The woman, it appeared, took the cafh-box and its contents from the van, but she said that in taking- the box she did not intend to steal it at all, and that she took it in joke. She put it in the shed and threw a bag over it. Then, apparently, finding she had readily got the box away from the van, and without detection, she seemed to have made up her mind to keep the money, the watch, and the other articles. Then when the man discovered the theft and made complaint the woman became frightened, and was about to bury the box when the police came on the scene. The accused was a first offender, and there were reports from residents saying that she and her husband and all her connections had borne a rery good character in the district. He (learned counsel) submitted it was a case in which he might ask his Honor to extend to the accused the benefit of the Probation Act.

His Honor: What is known about her, Mr Fraser?

' The Crown Prosecutor said he had only the depositions before him. The accused burnt » cheque, some hawkers' licenses, and a watch, but retained the money. His Honor asked what the local policeman laid about the woman?

' The Crown Prosecutor said thai nothing was known against the accused. She had hitherto borne a respectable character. On this day, however, she seemed to have yielded to the temptation, and stole the cash-box.

His Honor asked what was the value of the property that was not forthcoming? The Crown Prosecutor said it wag about £3 10s.

His Honor said the probation officer reported that £18 18s Id was recovered by the police, which left a deficiency of £6 7s 6d.

Mr Hanlon said that payment of the chpque iad been stopped, so that no loss was occasioned so far aa it was concerned.

His Honor said the cheque was a valuable security, and as the woman had destroyed it she must restore it before she -was admitted to probation. The Crown Prosecutor said the deficiency was £3 lGs lOd in cash, a cheque for £7, and the watch, valued at 30s, making a total of Cl 2Gs lOd. There were also witnesses' expenses ■mounting to £3 13s 6d, making altogether a sum of £16 Os 4d.

His Honor said the probation officer reported that the accused's husband was willing to make good the loss sustained. Notwithstanding the previous good character of the accused the case was not a very satisfactory one. The man was in the house as a guest, and was robbed while there, -which was, to use a, colloquialism, a lowdown sort of thing. Mr Hanlon said the man was not really a guest. He had, as it were, imposed himself oa the Wrights; he did not pay for what he got. His Honor said the accused would be placed on probation for 12 months on condition that £12, 6s lOd, the value of the missing property, was paid to the police by the prosecutor -within '14 days, and that costs to the amount of £3 13s 6d were .paid after the 14 days by instalments of 2s 6d a week.