THEFT OF A DAILY PAPER

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 15

THEFT OF A DAILY PAPER

ELDERLY WOMAN CHARGED. REMOVAL EROM AGENT’S BUNDLE Arrested at New Plymouth yesterday morning, an elderly woman was later charged in the Police Court before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., with the theft of a newspaper’ from a Taranaki Daily News bundle left outside a newsagent’s shop. She was convicted and discharged, the magistrate uttering a warning that future offenders would be dealt with much more severely. It was explained that for some time past numbers of newspapers had been disappearing from a bundle left daily for Mrs. J. Tuohy. A watch was kept yesterday and Constable Shirley saw the accused open the bundle and remove a paper. She was a poor woman and not in a position to buy a paper. Hers was not the only offence. Others had been stealing papers too and the accused had been brought before the court only to provide an example and a warning. The accused stated she had never committed the offence previously. Mr. Tate said the taking of newspapers was theft and would be dealt with more severely. He ordered accused’s name to be suppressed.