“Low Wages and Love of Dress”
GIRL SHOP-LIFTER
TOO YOUNG FOR PRISON A DMITTING three charges of shop-lifting, a young woman, aged 20, wept when she appeared at the Police Court on Saturday. It was dresses that she had stolen, and her counsel suggested that low wages, absence from home, and love of dress caused her to commit the thefts. She was charged with stealing an evening dress valued at £1 19s 6d from a city emporium on June 17, with stealing a frock valued at £7 7s from the same firm on July 15, and also with stealing a handkerchief valued at Is from another firm on July 19. Chief-Detective Cummings said that accused was a saleswoman in another shop. Her general character was good, and there was no reason to suppose that she had committed thefts other than those with which she was charged. It had been suggested that she was under the influence of an elder woman. “She has had a secondary school education, and should have known better,” added Mr. Cummings. A SALUTARY LESSON Mr. Allan Moody, addressing the magistrate, said that the girl’s people lived outside the city. She was getting a small wage, and this, combined with love of dress, was the contributing factor in her lapse. If she were not sent to prison her father would take her away from the city immediately. ‘This class of offence is hard to deal with,” said counsel, “but it is committed generally by elderly women. This girl is inexperienced, and has been foolish, not criminal. “She has had a salutary lesson, and appreciates the disgrace she has brought upon herself and her family.” Mr. W. R- McKean, S.M.: I will not send a young girl like this to prison, but fines do not have a deterrent effect. It may be necessary to consider whether imprisonment without the option of a fine should not be the punishment for this type of offence. On each of the first two charges the girl was fined £5 and ordered to make £ 9 6s 6d restitution. On the third charge she was convicted and discharged.
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 7
Word Count
354“Low Wages and Love of Dress” Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 7
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