BRANDED

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 4

BRANDED

Woman of Means Qaoled PETTY THIEF (From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) Well dressed, and fof good appeajance, Annie Harilon, aged 47, stood m the dock of the Christchurch Police Court and wept silently — a ..branded" thief. TN her homo lfte she wanted for nothing; money, clothes, the warmth and comfort of happy domestic circumstances. But m an impulsive moment she fell a victim to the pretty articles which decorated a display stand m the D.I.C. In her purse was a sum of £9, showing that she was not m need of the wherewithal to purchase the goods whicFl took her fancy. She could not explain her crime. "It iMiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiitiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiii-

was m a moment of impulse," she said. Humiliated and penitent she faced Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.*, for sentence on three charges of stealing goods to the value of £2/8/6. In answer to Mr. W. J. Stacey's pleadings that the woman [had been frank when accosted, and admitted to the manager of the establishment that she had taken other small good 3 which were not found m her possession, the magistrate announced that the report furnished about the woman indicated that the assistants m the D.I.C. had had reason to keep this woman under surveillance for a long period. Mr. Stacey: She is actually glad she was caught, sir, as it stopped her from what might have gone on. . The Magistrate: I can't give a shoplifter of this age probation. Seven days on each charge.