WOMEN SHOP LIFTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 60

WOMEN SHOP LIFTERS.

WELLINGTON. August 5. Substantial fines were imposed on two women who appeared before Mr E. I’age, S.M.. in the .Magistrate’s Court to-day for sentence on charges of shop-lifting. Another offender who, on her own adiuiss- - was a drug addict, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The women on whom the fines were imposed were Mary Jones (a widow, aged 36) and Eileen Gladys Quinn, a married woman, aged 30. They made their first appearance yesterday morning, when the former admitted 10 charges and the latter six charges. The articles taken included silk stockings, scent, powder, and gloves. .Ihc total value of the goods amounted to less than 120.

Air W. E. Leicester, who appeared for both the accused, said that his clients had already suffered considerably as the the result of the publicity they had received and the humiliation of having spent a night in custody. ” 1 do not think this is a case in which I can extend probation,” said Mr Page. ■’ Shop-lifting is an offence which is, 1 believe, very prevalent. It is easy to commit and very difficult to detect. There are points in favour of the accused, however. They are both first offenders, and they are the mothers of young children. When questioned, they frankly admitted all the offences.”

A fine ot £2O, in default one month’s imprisonment, was imposed on the first charge in each case, the accused . being allowed one week in which to find the money. On each of the other charges they weie convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 mouths. The Magistrate made it a condition that they should not associate with each other during that time. Eccentrically dressed, Maggie M‘Gr<egor, a single woman, aged 45, admitted having committed six offences of shop-lifting between June 4 and June 2G. The goods taken, which included boots, shirts, an umbrella, and men’s trousers, were valued at £6 3s. Chief Detective Ward said that the accused was discharged from Addington last April, after having served 12 months for theft. She had been taking articles from shop doorways and selling them to second-hand dealers. When arrested. M’Grcgor had a bottle containing a drug in her possession, and she admitted that she had been taking this. The Accused (in a thin voice): “Could not get work, your Worship, and i was practically starving.” Air Page: “The probation officer says, and the accused herself admits that she is a drug addict. I think it would be in her own interests if she were put away for a. time to see if she can get the craving out of her system.” A sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment was imposed.