SHOP-LIFTING ADMITTED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 7

SHOP-LIFTING ADMITTED.

married woman in court. . . STOLE SOAP WORTH HALF • A , . / .CROWN. ' * * ■ - i-~ ; , _ ~ An instance of how a married woman,; havjng ample .means, entered a shop, and / stole petty articles for which she had' no need, was given in-the Gisborne .Magistrate’s Court this morning, when a mid-dle-aged woman admitted the theftof ten c;\kes of soap valued at 2s. 6d. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick stated that this accused, had gone into the premises «■ of'Stubbs and Co. and placed ten cakes *of soap iinlo ■ a basket. The _act was witnessel by Mr. Stubbs and his assistant, and the police were duly notified. Hb ’ uodejsfooa that there , was a great deal:;t>f jpetty thieving in the town, bm the. shopkeepers were reluctant to prosecute: 1 5 ;. ‘’KLEPTOMANIA.” For the accused,' Mr. A. Whitehead said the. woman had a previous gdpu character. She had a hard-working husband, and was the mother of five, young children. The offence was unaccoum able, as the had a large supply of soap in her oWn bouse, and had ample means to purchase more if she required it. When she went into the shop she had £6 in her purse, but slie had no in- • tehtion of purchasing soap. The accused could recollect being attracted by the! soap - but could • not; recollect touch--'ingimdre.tiufh two cakes, of soap. The case, ,he submitted, was a. genuine intsfthce of • kleptomania. He applied for a slight penalty,; and.'for'suppression of the name. . ~ ' 'f f 3 •Ml; 'WARNS OFFENDERS:. v ■The ,'Mfagis't rate :sai‘d 'that case's of this description ahyays-- presented difficulties. Personally, he did not attach much credence to .the defence of .kleptomania, blit, he was not going to make an example off the accused. .He would , warn her,, and all others, however, that if the offences persisted, offenders would go. to gaol Without the - option. In this case a fine of £3 would 'be imposed-, and; in* consideration for her children, her name would be suppressed. ' '