STORY OF MISSING RING INCIDENT AT CABARET

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1931, Page 5

STORY OF MISSING RING

INCIDENT AT CABARET

YOUNG MARRIED WOMAN IN COURT.

AUCKLAND. January 19. A rather unusual story of a missing dress ring was told at the Police Coil it this afternoon when a well dressed

young married woman appeared on a charge of stealing a ring valued at

019. While admitting the facts, AH' Leslie Adams on behalf of his client, entered a lorinal plea of not guilty.

Miss Norali Oxton said she left her ring on a wash basin in a ladies’ dressing room at a cabaret on the night ot April 13, 1929. She had one dance on returning to the cabaret be.ore she realised that she had forgotten to replace, tfie ring on her finger. Returning to the ladies’ room she was unable to find tiie ring. On December 29 last while in a Queen Street shop she observed the ring on accused’s finger. Site had advertised the loss of her ring in the “Star.”

Detetctive’s Evidence

Detective'Allen who interviewed the accused, said the woman admitted finding the ring, not in the ladies room but in a passage at the cabaret. She added that both her husband and herself had watched the newspapers closely to see if the owner advertised. They did not see any advertisement. Accused was a respectable woman and had never been in trouble before.

“This woman went to the cabaret for an evening of pleasure anti in picking something which did not belong to her she committed a foojish act which has brought her here to-day,” said counsel. “Site did not go there with any criminal intent, Sjie found

the ring in a passage and taking it home put it aside. As time went on she thought that as no one claimed it. it was her own property. Of course, she realises now that she should have handed it to the cabaret manager.” -Mr Adams made an earnest plea for accused, who lit 1 said, had a child three

years ol age. She came from an eminently respectable iamily and tor the sake, of herseli, her husband and child, be asked the magistrate to deal with iter under Section 92 of the Justices Act and dismiss the case on payment ol' costs.

The magistrate (Air \V. H. Woodward) said that counsel's request was an unusual one and he would take time to consider it. ”1 will remand accused in custody until Wednesday morning.” lie said. Mr Woodward agreed to make an order for the suppression of accused's name until the cues was decided.

Accused Deeply Penitent

Two hours later, Air Adams again mentioned the matter, saying that accused was deeply penitent. Two hours incarceration had had the same effect as two months upon Her. He asked whether the magistrate would consider the matter before nightfall as there was no one to care for the child, who could not accompany the mother to prison.

“It is hard to understand a woman coming to this court dressed as she is and wearing jewellery facing a theft charge,” said Mr Woodward, Air Adams said he had only been instructed by another solicitor this morning, otherwise lie would have seen that his client was more simply attired,

this afternoon when the case was again called Air Woodward tolcl accused ho would finalise it because counsel had assured him that she was deeply penitent and now realised file serjouwliesa of the offence, “However, | think it would have been better if you had come to this court with less display of Vanity, vanity which I think has been

the cause of your appearance here on this charge, You will be convicted and fined £5,”

The magistrate made an order suppressing accused’s name and also allowed her forty-eight hours in which to pay tiie fine,