THEFT OF SUIT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1933, Page 6

THEFT OF SUIT

■w OFFENCE BY WOMAN. : . AUCKLAND, November'27, _ “You will hear,no more about this if you behave yourself,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in. the Police Court, after [hearing evidence against Ivy Davis, aged 33, married, who admitted stealing -a suit valued at 7s on June 30. Mr Noble represented accused. Detective-Sergeant M. O’Sullivan said accused had been living with a man named Smith, and his mother. While in the house accused stole the s uit and pawned it. Accused was married, but lived apart from lier husband, while Smith did not Eve with his wife. Smith, who was on relief work, was earning £2 13s 4d a week, of which £2 went to support his wife and children. He and accused lived on the remaining 13s 4d.

“Thi s case is an illustration of the proverb that ‘necessity knows no law,’ ” said Mr Noble. He said the owner of the suit was serving a sentence of five years’ imprisonment. The Magistrate: Well, he will not want his suit for five years. Mr Noble: Even if it is hi,s Sunday suit, lie is in an establishment where they wear their Sunday suits, every day. Accused and Smith are desperately hard up, and she pawned the suitfor food. They will lie married when they get their respective divorces. The Magistrate: She has a husband and has left her children. She is no “clean potato.” Mr Noble said they had been managing fairly well on 13s 4d a week, it was a family affair and restitution would be made. Counsel asked that accused should not be convicted or placed on probation. , Accused was admitted to probation for 12 months.

Mr Noble: . She will not keep the terms of her probation.

The Magistrate: If she does not, then I will deal with her.

After a brief argument, Mr Noble agreed that restitution should be made.