12 CHARGES AGAINST WOMAN

Southland Times, Issue 23680, 1 December 1938, Page 9

12 CHARGES AGAINST WOMAN

GOODS OBTAINED FROM FIRMS IN CITY Elsie May Richardson pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr- R. C. Abernethy, S.M., to 12 charges of obtaining from Invercargill firms goods of a total value of £55 1/4 with intent to defraud. The accused was a married woman living at Fairfax, said Detective-Ser-geant R. Thompson. She began the scheme of getting goods on June 21. In each shop she made certain purchases and asked that the goods be charged to various women whose names she used. In all cases these women had accounts at the shops. The accused was interviewed by Detective T. Smith on November 11 and admitted that she had committed the offences. Goods to the value of £l7 were recovered, but he did not think that there was any hope of the accused making restitution of the other goods. “The scheme was a vicious one,’ continued Detective-Sergeant Thompson. “It was only after a lot of inquiries that the woman’s identity was discovered. The accused has not been in trouble before.” “If you give me a chance I will try to settle with the firms,” said the accused when asked if she had anything to say. “I have had a worrying time and I don’t think this would have, happened had I been in good health.” “I am somewhat concerned to know what to do with you,” said the Magistrate. “You have placed suspicion on a number of women. I think it would be as well for your sake and the sake of the community if I convict you and order you to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon.” On one charge of obtaining goods to the value of £ll 6/5 with the intent to defraud -by falsely representing that she was Mrs John Kerr, the accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon, on condition that she remain in the Salvation Army Reformatory Home for that period. On the other 11 charges the accused was convicted and discharged. , , . 4 An order was made for the return of the goods to the owners.