GIRL STEALS £107

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 193, 13 May 1944, Page 8

GIRL STEALS £107

“Capacity For Falsehood” Found guilty by a jury in the Supreme Court, Wellington, of the theft of £lO7 9/10 while employed by the Maple Furnishing Company, Ltd., Lucy Tinney, clerk, aged 18. was admitted to probation for three years by 'Mr. Justice Blair yesterday on condition that she pay the costs of the prosecution and make restitution. It was alleged that In February Tinney, who was employed as a cashier by tne firm, removed receipt duplicates from the firm’s -records and kept corresponding amounts of money, returning the duplicates when it was discovered that they were missing and they were demanded. Accused denied that she had taken the receipt duplicates or had given them to tier superior, and on her behalf it was submitted that it had not been shown that she alone could have taken the money. ■ The jury, who were in retirement two hours 20 minutes, added to their verdict a strong recommendation to mercy. “Your capacity for falsehood appalled me” said his Honour to prisoner when sentencing her. “l am very sorry to see a young girl start that way.” Statements from the witness-box minht hove brought on her a term in a borstal institution However, the woman probation officer 'had reported favourably and recommended probation, and he was always glad to act on such recommendations. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. W. n. Cunningham, conducted tlio prosecution and Mr. F. W. Ongley. with him Mr. J. O’Donovan, appeared for accused.