COURT MYSTERY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19584, 16 March 1938, Page 12

COURT MYSTERY

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN REFUSAL TO GIVE NAME IN CUSTODY SINCE FRIDAY An unidentified woman, who was stated to have persistently refused to disclose her name and address to the police, was charged in the Auckland Police Court on Saturday with having stolen four eggs valued at 10d, two yards of dress material valued at 5s Gd, and one and three-quarter yards of material worth Os from city stores. She was called into the dock as

“female, name unknown," and she refused to answer the presiding justice of the peace, Mr. J. B. Donald, when he asked her (or her name. She pleaded not guilty to the charges after not answering at first.

The woman was still unidentified on Sunday. She is described as being about 50 years of age, small but well built, and tidily dressed. It is stated that no other case of such a nature has been known in Auckland. Arrested persons often refuse to give their names at first, but later identify themselves before they appear in court.

Gave False Name First

Sub-Inspecl'or Fox informed Mr. Donald and Mr. S. Leah, J.P.s, who were on the bench when the case was called on Saturday, that the woman had been arrested in Karangahape road at 4 p.m. on Friday by a constable, who said he had seen her take the eggs. At first she gave a false name and address, but later disclosed that these were not correct. Since then she had refused to identify herself. The two other charges were based upon the discovery of the materials in her possession.

"I have personally explained to her,” said Sub-Inspector Fox, “that if she discloses her identity some arrangements can be made to interview either her husband or relatives with the object of obtaining her release on bail, but she will not tell us who she is.

Remand in Custody

“She says she is married, but has no children. That is all she will tell us. Of course, she may have good reasons for hiding her identity, but until she discloses it nothing can be done other than to remand her in custody. I will ask that she be re-

manded in custody until next Friday, and if she does not say who she is by then she will have to be further remanded.” | “Will you now disclose your name?” asked Mr. Donald. The woman still refused to speak and was remanded in custody until Friday. >