WOMAN CHARGED WITH THEFT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14143, 14 June 1920, Page 5

WOMAN CHARGED WITH THEFT.

KOPUARANGA INCIDENT. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL A married woman named Eliza Perry was charged at the PoliceCourt this morning, before Mr S. L. 1 • Free, S.M., with breaking and entering the residence of Philip Ausfin Sclwyn, at lvopuaranga, and stealing ’herefrom a quantity of spoons, a knife, a towel,. a sheet, and a quantity of lady's underwear, to the total value of £2O. Mr Thos. Jordan appeared for accused,- who pleaded not geiity. 'Philip Austin Sclwyn, railway surfaceman stationed at lvopuaranga, said that he lived in a Government house 1 here. On two or three occasions witness ,ami his wife were away at Masterton and they left the house locked up. After they had been at Kopuaranga a week or two they missed a nightdress; a twill sheet, and a towel. On several occasions since then witness had missed a silver table •spoon, five common . table, spoons, one .dessert knife, two lady's nightdresses, one striped towel, tray cloth, a dozen baby's napkins, several pairs cf lady s bloomers, anil several camisoles. This was all he; could think of at present. Witness identified practically all of the articled produced ms those that had been - misst-d.' . Witness reported his losses to (he police recently, and .a '■search warrant .was obtained on June IQth. The’ constable, witness and. his wife Went jto accused's house. All of the properly produced was recovered j-font the house.. Accused admitted , breaking into witness's house on threeoccasions. She admitted taking certain articles, but denied taking others that were found after searching. Cross-examined by Mr Jordan, witness said he was on friendly terms with Mr Perry, who was also a railway 'surfaceman. 1 Witness's wife and Mrs Perry were- on fairly intimate, terms until about: a month ago. There was trouble last' month about some of witness's .fowls trespassing on Perrys garden, and Perry asked witness to keep the fowls dosed up.. This was done. Mrs Perry had frequently sent insulting notes to witness * wife, as a result of which “words” had occurred between them. Barbara Isabella Sclwyn said that she first missed her nightdress and lace camisole and the other things when her boxes were unpacked later. Those articles included a flannelette nightdress, a silk jumper and a scarf, all of which were produced in court. About tuo month, sago, witness locked her house ami came to Masterton with her husband. When she returned home she missed an embroidery nightdress, a tea cloth, a plated -tablespoon, teaspoons, a knife, a pair of knickers, a camisole, while underksirt, and a towel. Witness’s name was on each end of the towel in indelible ink, but the towel produced in court had a piece cut out of each end. All of the articles enumerated were produced m court, and were identified By witness as her property. .. ~ • Replying to Mr Jordan, witness said she had shown Mrs Perry her things when they were unpacked. It was not true that she had given Mrs Perry certain things. Witness had only arrived in. New Zealand about a year ago. , Constable Gurdeu said that on June 10th he searched Berry’s house. When witness read the search warrant to accused she admitted that she had most .of,the property, anil turned it out All of the property produced was identified bvSelwvn or his wife. Accused admitted the articles were Mrs Selwyn Accused admitted to witness that she had gone into Mrs Sclwyn’s house while the latter was.in town, and had taken the articles. She said she. had a kev wfiicii opened,the back door of Selwyn s. house.: The key produced was the pne used. ' This was,the case tor the police. ' Mr Jordan said his client would i plead not guilty, and would reserve her defence. Accused was committed for trial at lhe,next, sittings of the Supreme Court in Masterton. Mr Jordan said accused was the daughter of a well known farmer at Akatarawa, and w r as the mother of foui children. He would suggest that the bail M light, as there was no danger of accused leaving the district. His Worship agreed with counsel, and fixed bail in accused’s own security for £IOO.