CLOTHING STOLEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 46, 6 November 1946, Page 5

CLOTHING STOLEN

MARRIED WOMAN’S LAPSE

SUPPRESSION REFUSED

Pleading guilty to three separate charges involving the theft of clothing, household linen, fabrics and a blanket on dates ranging from 23rd to the 26th of June last, Eileen Webster, a married woman of Whakatane, appeared before Mr E. L. Walton S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months if called upon. An application for suppression of accused’s name was refused.

Sergeant Farrell setting out the case said that accused had been engaged as housekeeper to keep house for the family of a married woman of Whakatane who was compelled to go to hospital. It was during this period that she had helped herself to the goods mentioned in the charge totalling in all some £ls in value. They included quantities of wool, numerous children’s dresses, nightgowns, curtains, bed linen and underwear. The matter had been reported to the police and when interviewed accused had admitted the thefts and had returned the majority of the articles. Much of the material had.been cut up for children’s clothing, and approximately £8 worth was still outstanding. Accused was a first offender, was in poor health, and had the responsibility of a large family.

Mr Barry who defended said that accused could not offer any explanation for her actions. She had seen the articles of clothing and did not know what had possessed her when she decided to take them. She had never been before the court before, and had reared two families an adult one, and a younger growing one of four children. He asked for leniency in view of the circumstances and also for suppression. The Magistrate said that he could not send accused to goal in view of her circumstances, nor could he inflict a fine. She would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon, the question of restitution he would leave to be fixed by counsel and the police, to be ratified at the December sitting.