MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 61, 6 December 1920, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A PITIABLE CASE. A short sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held oh Saturday morning, with Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. on the bench. ..<• A middle-aged married woman, the mother o{ eight.children, and expecting a .ninth, pleaded i guilty to stealing three books, value 89! 6d., the property of tho D.1.C.. stealing two boks, value 165., the property of Kirkcaldio and Stains, Ltd., ajnf. stealing two books, one doll, 0110 kewpie, and one toy, valuo 333. Bd., i(he property of "Whiteambe and Tombs, Ltd. Mr. H. F. O.'Leary, who appeared for tho accused, said the circumstances were exceptional and extraordinary. The woman had had considerable trouble. Two of her sons went to.the war, and one was killed, hut she did not know of \3io fact until a day or two ago. She had been worrying why this son had not returned. When her eighth child was coming she behaved in an erratic man-' jier. and now she appeared to have an ■uncontrollable deaire to read books. The case was a pitiable one, and he suggested rhat under the circumstances she should be treated with the utmost leniency. The woman was convicted and discharged, and, exercising his powers iinder the amended Act, the Magistrate ordered: that her name should not bo published. Frederick .T. Patching, a seaman, and •Arthur Joseph Langham, a cook, were jointly charged with tho I heft of an electroplate lea service of three pieces, valued at .£5, the property of Ada M. C. Firth. On the application of Chief-De-tective AVard, who stated that other charges were pending against the accused, thov wore-remanded until December 10. A youth named Thomas M'Laughlin was remanded 'to December 8 on a charge of breaking and enuring the ■ simp of John L. Turner, and. slealiug tobacco and money.