SHOPLIFTING CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 56, 21 July 1947, Page 5

SHOPLIFTING CHARGE

ELDERLY WOMAN CONVICTED SATURDAY COURT SITTING An elderly woman, Ina Naumann, of Oliope Beach, appeared before Messrs. C. S. Armstrong and I. B. Hubbard, Justices of the Peace, in the Whakatane Court on Saturday morning charged with shoplifting. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months.

Accused went into a local store on Friday and took a pair of black gym hose valued at 10/1. She then made two purchases. An eye witness advised the manager who approached the woman and asked her if she had purchased the hose. Accused denied being in possession of the hose and left the shop.

The manager -contacted the police and Constable McMath interviewed the woman, who was at this time in the bus shelter at the Rock. He asked her if she had purchased any hose in town that day and if she had any in her bag. Receiving a reply in the negative to both questions the constable arrested accused and searched the bag she was carrying. In this he found the stolen goods.

The accused pleaded not' guilty and said she had been served by one of the girls in the store. She was taking the hose home to try them on and would pay for them on Wednesday. She declined to giveevidence.

The manager of the store and the witness who was present and saw the woman put the hose in her bag gave evidence.

Accused became very agitated and rigorously denied the theft. The bench then gave its decision as outlined above.