“A WICKED WOMAN”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19247, 26 February 1925, Page 4

“A WICKED WOMAN”

A RACECOURSE INCIDENT. A middle-aged woman named T/cnw Clapperton appeared before Air J. S. Barton. S.M., at the Afagistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with the theft o! the sum of £l9 10s, the property of James Joseph Clarkin. The offence was alleged tn have been committed on the Wanganui Racecourse on the occasion of the first day’s races. Accused, who was represented by Mi T. Slipper, entered a pica of not guilty. Senior Sergt. Lopdcll conduct*- I the prosecution. The police called a number of witnesses. who testified that they observed accused in the company nt Clarkin, who was under the influence of liquor. Christopher B. Wells, a taxi driver, stated in evidence that ho xvus on the racecourse on the day of the alleged theft, and observed accused sitting on a seat with a man. She was interfering with her companion’s pockets. Witness saw some silver in Clarkin s hand. Accused took possession of the money and ran away. Clarkin endeavoured to follow, but was incapable of doing so, being the worse for drink. Witness, in company with a friend, informed the police of what he had observed, with the result that Clapperton was arrested. Similar evidence was submitted by the other witnesses.Clarkin was also called by the police. He slated that he was in company with accused on the dny in ques tion, and being afflicted with a bac I back, he. indulged in a few “gins.’ j Accused interfered with his pockets ! with the result that he missed a sun; of money, the theft of which accused was charged with. Accused slated that she was a housekeeper residing in Wanganui. Clarkic approached witness just before a certain race on the first day. lie was drunk nt the time. He asked her what horse she fancied, and he agreed tc follow her choice. Clarkin suggested later that witness and ho have a drink. They adjourned to a shed handy and participate'! in two drinks. Clarkin | made an appointment with witness for I the. next. day. He arranged also with i witness to procure a quantity of liquor i wtin?~which both intended having a I “spree” in the country. Clarkin | supplied witness with money to nego tiate the purchase of liquor. Witness j denied that she had put her armn | about Clarkin. The silver witness had lin her hand, and which Clarkin had I endeavoured to force from her, was a • matter of two shillings, which ho had I given her to purchase brandy. Witi ness denied that she had interfered with Clarkin’s pockets in any way. She denied also the statement of Clarj kin that she had explored his waisV coat pockets. Senior-Scrgt. LopdcH fnfarmed the Bench that the accused had a bad record —she was a very wicked woman 1 indeed. A similar incident had oeenrred at Cook’s Gardens only recently, in which accused had featured. She had appeared before the Court, brrt on that occasion escaped a convietitwu She had a bad reputation and at ons time conducted a house of ill-faun? ra Napier. The Magistrate, in sentencing IM>cuscd to .12 months’ hard labour, to be followed by two years’ detention for reformative treatment, said there no doubt that she liad committed the , crimo under review. There was a strong body of evidence for the prosecution. He did not believe any <rf accused’s evidence, and it was de»« that she preyed on drunken men. “The public must be protected,” concluded His Worship.