UNCONSIDERED TRIFLES.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 August 1919, Page 2

UN C ONSIDERED TRIFLES.

PICKERS-UP CONVICTED. _' LIVELY ‘SPAR IN. COURT. WANGANUI, Aug. 16. For some time past many thefts have ‘been .perpe?t'rated’ in .W.anganui jdistrict, and the police have had a busy time, trying to trace what appeared to be a gang. Eventually clues were obtained through the medium -of a. secondhand goods shop, and as a result. of inv.estigati«o.ns a man manred Albert N eilson and his wife, who are not unknown to the police in other parts, were arrested and brought before the court. Four charges, _including theft of jewellery, clothing, articles fnbm clothes lines, etc., were preferred against them, the value of the articles running into a go.od/few pounds. The womxan was very diefiant in ]court, and some interesting sparring took place between her «and the police, When a charge of stealing nightdresses was being heard, the accused, in her evidence, said: “I bought the‘ nightdresscs from a Maori woman three years ago for 10/. I told the police the dresses had been stolen, but I tell these people anything. I was not aware that the garments were stolen until the police told me_ They took me down to near the charitable aid offices and shu.t me in a room, and although I had a splitting head and was ‘faintified’ for the want of a cup of tea, the detective simply drove me to tell him. They were paid servants of the Government, and I told them anything. They searched my house while I was in the lock-up. They had the key, and told me they

would look after" my fowls, but that was only a blind to Search it. When the police saw me I was in such a muddle that I did not know what I

I was saying.” Dctectiwe-Sergeant Hollis: You’vc [been telling the Bench a nice little i fairy tale. “What I have been telling the !Br=nch is the truth.”

“You are «at good ‘wife. Don’t you do (everything your husband tells you?” “No; I -don’t do everything my husband tells me, nor do I tell him everything I do." “Didn’t you tell me in good faith that your husband took the garments?” “I told you onething; I am telling you different now. This is the truth.” “Do you seriously realise the position that you are liable to be tried for perjury for not telling the truth?” “That may be so.” “This is not the first time you have le&‘ the police ;a, lively dance?” “That is for you to find out_ You are paid servants. I". am not your agent.” “You were something similar in Wellington?” The accused were convicted on the fourth charge of stealing a quantity of soap, cutlery, and soft goods. The accused Albert Neilson said his wife

had had some pillowshnrns such as were pl-oduced in court for 3 long time. The pillow case he picked up in a dust. can. He had bought a box at u S3lO at the Harbour Board's shed at Wellillg_ ton five years ago. It collt~.a.ined a large quantity c-f articles, and the stuff in court came out of it. The soap. was made by his wife in the South Island, Detective-Sergeant. Hollis: You got some things from the V\7o3lillg‘ton wharf without paying for ‘(inc-111. didn’t you?__ I don ’t know what you mean.

T)idn’t you receive eighteen months for theft from the Wellington Wha.l'f 3113 nine months for at similar (11131-ge<3._ These sentences were admitted by ac. cnsed. Did you ever work at» Hastie’s Hotel at Feilding?——yes_ Did you ever get any spoons from thel'c?——l can’t say I know anything about them. Deteetive—Sergeant. H-dllis produced a spoon‘ which was found in the possession of the accused. An attempt had been made to erase the name “I-lastie’s Hotel.” In answ.ez' to further questions from Sergeant.-Detective I-lollis, witness stated that his furniture had been stored while he was undergoing imprisonment.

Barbara Neilson, in the course of 1101' evidence, said she made the soap. Detective-Sergeant. 11-lolliss cross—examined her upon the origin of certain al'tic.les, whereupon s-he remarked: “It is not legal for a wife to give evidence against her husbahd. Ygu told me than on several occasions.

Dctcctiv'e-Sergeant Ho'l,'l2s: “It’s; good advice. then?” "‘ There ’:s too mu-ch of .9. lawyer about you for my liking,” was the quick reply. “You just I‘l'_v to be too funny.” Witiiess described the purchase of +1».r.~ box at the }Tm-bour Boa.rd’s shed as being “like buying a pig in a bag.” Questioned about a statement she made to the police that her husband b:'ough.t home :1 towel from one. -of the hotels, witness replied; “Oh, I told you anything. I mdcaling with the court now. I was entitled to tell you lies when you searched my place Without a warrant.”

The Court intimated that it had been decided to convict the accused, The pi-vsiding Justices remarked that the Court I'e'gurded the .a.ccused’s stories as :1. tissue of lies. On the first summary charge a sentence of one mont.h’s imprisonment 'on both accused was imposed, while on the above charge the male accused was sentenced to two months’ imprisomnent, the sentences to be concurrent. '