THOSE SILK STOCKINGS

NZ Truth, Issue 1182, 26 July 1928, Page 2

THOSE SILK STOCKINGS

Adventure On Bargain Day Has Sequel In Court

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) j A pair of silk stockings, draped around a shapely calf, are a joy to all Women, but, emblem of the faultle; sly hosed as , they can be, met with m other circumstances they are. . .

WELL, the story of Annie Deans, of Christchurch, proves that a pair of silk stockings can be other than a shimmering mass of feminine delight. In Annie's case, they were tho emblem of no end of upset and trouble. But thereby hangs a story. For some time past the curiosity of the fair sex had been aroused by attractive exhortations not to miss tho wonderful half-price sale - day that Beaths' were preparing. And on the memorable day the ladles were ther\e m their battalions, advancing wave upon wave m a.vigorous attack on the bargain counters. Among the attackers who managed to get past the barricade of commisisonaires was Annie Deans, who was accompanied by two friends. Now, Annie had no interest m silken hose at the sale. Her mind ' was occupied with frocks. And so to the mantle department. Arrived there, Mrs. Deans gave the frocks "the once .over" and her eyesi rested on one that seemed just the] '

very thing. ' It is just at this point-where Annie's story conflicted somewhat with the one told by the staff of Beaths' when

She Didn't Speak

giving evidence against her on a charge of shoplifting. Ivy May Hathaway, who works m the mantle department, told Magistrate Mosley that Mrs. Deans said she wanted to try on a frock, and, on undoing her fur coat, a pair of silk stockings fell to the floor. Miss Hathaway said nothing to Mrs. Deans, but reported the matter. Annie was accordingly called upon to explain things to Detective Main. Mrs. Deans, however, denied that she had ever been near the stocking counter and- affirmed that she had never stolen the hose. This was the puzzle the magistrate was called upon to solve. •; Lawyer Tracy, ..who appeared for Mrs. Deans, was at great pains to find out from Miss Hathaway why she had said nothing to the woman when she first saw the stockings on the floor. The reply he received was that she did not say anything, but simply picked them up. No time was wasted m escorting Mrs. Deans to the manager's office, where, she told Charles. Ogilvie, the

manager, that she did not" know how the stockings' came to. be m her coat. Ogilvie, however, was not' inclined to argue and informed her that it was a case for the police. Lawyer Tracy put Mrs. Deans m the box. She told her story calmly enough. She declared that she had never gone near the stocking department. She liad gone to the mantle department to try on a frock, but as she could not try it on m the middle of the room, Miss Hathaway, said Annie, invited her to go into a corner and effect the- transformation there. "Miss Hathaway then left me and a little later I was approached and asked about the stockings." Lawyer Tracy: Now, putting -it bluntly, did you steal those stockings? —No, I did not steal them. Detective-sergeant Young then took a hand and threw'a/little cold water on Annie's tale. *• . He commenced by obtaining an admission that there was a great crowd at the sale. Detective-sergeant Young: In fact, it was an ideal day for shoplifting, eh?

—No. You have heard the evidence of fir^^i grudge against you? — Well she

never spoke to me when I worked at the place. • Do you suggest that she would come here and deliberately perjure herself to get you into trouble? —No, I don't think so. ' "And is it not a; fact that m April, when you were convicted for the same offence, the articles you took were what might be called "paltry" things, such as a gramophone record?" Annie thought for a'moment. "But the circumstances were different, theh," she said. "Is that the only conviction you have had for shoplifting?" the detective wanted to know. Mrs. Deans admitted that it was. "No convictions m the North Island?"—"No, none." The magistrate then had a say. "It seems to me," remarked the bench, "that there is a slight possibility the accused did not take these* stockings. "It is a slight possibility, but the accused will get the benefit of the doubt and the charge will be dismissed." • And so did Annie's bargain-day adventure end.