POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 5

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. SHABBY OFFENCES. “ I’m afraid I can’t sav anything good about this man,” said Detectivesergeant T. Y. Hall when Harold Janies Thomas (28) pleaded guilty to two charges of theft; “ he has not been before the court previously, i but he is of low character and has been philandering about with a young woman, borrowing money from her and posing as a single man.” Thomas was charged with having stolon £4 6s Old in money, the property of Mary Gillespie, and with the theft of two blankets valued at £l, the property of Maria Ellen Grant. The Detective c ’crgoant said thau the accused had been employed to do some work in the interior of a house, and abstracted the money from a purse in a wardrobe. He hail spent the money, except the farthing, which he had given to a lady friend. The blankets had been stolen from a boarding house at which he and his wife had been staying. Accused had sold the blankets to a second-hand dealer for 7s 6d, giving a fictitious name and address. The Magistrate remarked that had it boon a matter of one offence only he might have considered probation; both offences were' of a shabby type. Accused would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour on each charge. PETTY THIEVING. Edward Basil Thomas Finn (22), who had previously pleaded guilty to the theft of a wallet and contents, the property of John Roderick MacDonald, a fellow-occupant of a room at a’ private hotel, was further charged with the theft of a cigarette case valued at 12s 6d, the property of John Anthony De Cpnrcy. He pleaded guilty to this charge also. Detective-sergeant Hall said accused had stolen the case from the pocket of an overcoat which was hanging in the dressing room of a dance hall which accused had attended. The probation officer (Mr F. F. Mosley) reported concerning the accused, who was already’ or. probation for offences involving dishonesty, and the magistrate imposed a sentence of one month’s imprisonment with hard labour on each charge. PROBATION FOR SHOPLIFTER. Pleading guilty to two charges of theft from a city shop, Maria Ellen Cockerell, aged 68, was admitted to probation for a period of two years. The Detective Sergeant, in outlining tho facts, said that the worst aspect of the case was that the accused had been accompanied by her young niece, who had assisted in the thefts. The two were noticed placing some artificial flowers in a ease. They had then gone to the retiring room and wrapped up stolen goods in paper they had brought with them. Accused’s premises had been subsequently searched, and a quantity of goods, obviously stolen, had been found. These had been identified by tho complainant firm. The accused had then been charged with the theft of a blouse and cardigan to the value ot £1 6s, and with stealing cardigans, pullovers, blouses, a dressing gown, a dress and a coat, to the total value of £lB Ls Bd. t . ... , The Magistrate remarked that shoplifting, particularly when it was of a persistent nature, was rightly regarded as a serious charge. In view of the accused’s age and of the physical condition of her husband, however, she would be admitted to probation for a period of two years on the major charge. On the other charge she would be convicted and discharged.