GIRL’S KLEPTOMANIA.

Shannon News, 5 October 1923, Page 3

GIRL’S KLEPTOMANIA.

A HEM ARK ABUTS CASE. “MENTAL DISABILITY." That she was Buffering from Ai’ trouble, a branch of which was often kleptomania, curable possibly by mar* . riage, was the opinion expressed by ~ Dr. D. E. Fenwick, at the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Saturday, when speaking of a girl named Marion : Jean Lewis who appeared for sentence before Mr Justice McGregor, on charges of breaking, entering and j theft. Accused was before the Mag- ■ istrate’s Court lust Wednesday, when she entered a plea of guilty to all charges. The .fudge said he did not report of the probation officer him and for that reason he propose to deal with the prisoner fIHPH morning. Mr J. F. B. Stevenson, who appear* 'l ed for the accused, asked leave to call '- certain medical evidence, and Hie - Honour agreed to this course. J \ i Dr. Fenwick said he had special experience in nervous troubles. He had ■ examined the prisoner on September 1 27 and 28, and had also .inquired into her past history and her family history. He had found that in 19x4' j Lewis had suffered a severe mental t breakdown and from that Unless she < had not completely recovered.! He .' had also found that an aunt of the •' ’prisoner had been committed to a * mental hospital for treatment. The prisoner said rD. Fenwick, was suffering from no form of insanity but - from a mental disability. This trouble was chaaracterised by certain fears and certain acts. He would hare : diagnosed the girls’ condition,'" apart altogether from the present chargee. The girl had told him Bhe broke into houses without any preconceived idea of what she would take and that ; when she was once in the house bhe - just took things. .\ In answer to Mr Stevenson, Dr. 1 Fenwick said that a change of life,, h such as a long holiday in new surroundings, or marriage, would be very s likely to have a beneflicial effect on the prisoner.

The Judge remanded Lewis to ap- < pear bfore him on Tuesday morning, ■> He refused bail in the meantime, stating that the prisoner would bo < made quite comfortable at Point' ' Halgwell.