SHOP LIFTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 764, 22 July 1916, Page 11

SHOP LIFTING.

MARRIED WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY. "This woman appears to be a pro- | fessionaJ %'oplifter," said Chief Detective Herbert at the Magistrate's Court this morning, when Margaret McNeish appeared before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., charged with stealing two trayclolhs, live pillowslips, and I two d'oyleys, valued at £1 1/6, the j property of Beath and Co. The Chief Detective produced a voluminous black bag, made of some silesia material. "This was found underhercoat,attached to her waist,*' continued the Chief Detective, "and is so constructed that it would hold a barrow-load of goods." Accused was caught in the act of stealing at Beath and Co.'s sale. On searching the woman's house a quantity of other goods was found. Her husband was a hardworking man employed in the Covernment Workshops, and there were four children. "It seems to be a case," said the Chief Detective, "where a lesson should be taught that it doesn't pay to thieve in this fashion." The husband denied knowledge of his wife's dishonesty. He gave her all his wages and she managed the household. -The Magistrate: If I send your wife to prison, there will be no one to look alter the baby, I suppose? The Husband (laconically): Well, the wife's sisters would be able to do it. The accused admitted the offence, but denied that she was a professional shoplifter. She had never touched a thing until a month ago, when the company of two other women, who were versed in the practice, proved her downfall. "I can't go to gaol," pleaded the woman, "I must stay and nurse my baby." On the suggestion of Chief-Detec-tive Herbert, sentence was postponed to enable accused to give the police an account of how she became possessed of goods found in the house. Bail was allowed on the woman's own recognisance of £lO.