WIDOW’S THEFTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 101, 23 January 1935, Page 10

WIDOW’S THEFTS

Prison For Shoplifting CHARGES INVOLVING £268 By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, January 22. Many articles of feminine, attire and also a number of handbags and hat boxes were displayed at the Magistrate’s Court this morning as exhibits in a case in which Ellen Marion Mather, aged 33, a domestic servant, faced 27 charges of theft from shops. It was alleged that the offences covered the period between January 22, 1933, and December 4 last. The articles exhibited in court included two bicycles, two fur coats, hats, dresses, stockings, shoes, and many other articles of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. The charges involved goods of a total value of £268/16/104. To eight of the charges accused pleaded guilty and to the others not guilty. Twenty of the 27 charges were heard to-day. Accused was convicted on 16, and four were dismissed. She was sentence-1 to imprisonment for 14 days on the first, sentence on the others being deferred until the other charges are neard tomorrow. In evidence, accused said that it was her custom to go to nearly every race meeting, sometimes as far away as Wellington. She had inside information about horses, and her profits from race betting must have amounted at least to £2OO a year. She had not hanked the money because it would* have affected her widow’s pension. The magistrate: Won't you have to refund to the Government the money you have bad as widow's pension? Accused: No; it says on the paper that money earned must be put down, but. not money won at the races. I might have lost it again at other meetings. The magistrate: Earnings consist of money received from any source whatever. You. a woman with two children aud receiving a widow’s pension, could afford two fur eoats! Evidence was given by shopkeepers and their employees identifying the goods. In most eases identification was easy, but especially in respect of smaller articles witnesses could not be positive always that the goods had not been sold. In nil such cases the charges were dismissed.