SHOP-LIFTING IN WELLINGTON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 22 August 1910, Page 6

SHOP-LIFTING IN WELLINGTON

A WOMAN CONVICTED Weeping quietly during the proceedings, Catherine Moore, a middle-aged woman, residing at Fox's boardingliouse, Willis street, s cood her trial in Wellington on Thursday in t'he Supreme Court on a charge of shoplifting. The indictment charged her with having stolen a sealskin muff from the D.I.C. on June 13th; with having, stolen a pair of binoculars, a leather collarbag, a silver-mounted purse, and a handbag from W. E. Holliday's shop on June 2 lit; and with having stolen a fur from Charles Adams and Co.'s shop. Alfred Arthur Corrigan, manager of the D.1.C., sitated that, on receiving the report from Miss Harbroe, he followed the accused up Lambton Quay, and, at his request, she came 'back with him to his office. Detective Bailey was brought in, and, on the accused being asked to account for the disappearance of a valuable muff, she hesitated'. Then Miss Harbroe and another assistant were called in and identified the accused as the person who bad previously been in the fur department. When accused was informed that a detective was present, she said, "Oh, well, I shan not say any thing." The detective 'left the room, and accused said, "Don't give me in charge; 'I will get you (back your muff." Mr. Corrigan told her' that he "had no intention of giving her in charge, but was anxious to get back the company's goods and stop this kind of shoplifting. Other goods had been stolen from the shop. Accused said, "Now look here, I will bring back the muff. I wi.i get it for you. I will pay for it." Then she asked What was tlhe price of the muff, and Mr. Corrigan replied that she must know, because the muff bore a ticket wihen she took it. He informed her that the matter wias not in his hands, but had been reported to the police. However, if t'he matter were settled quietly by, the returning of the muff and any other articles taken by her from the D/IX)., he would do his best to prevent her beinig, subjected to prosecution. He offered to send Miss Harbroe and another member of the staff to her lodg-l inga, if she would agree; and then, if ' e'he gave up t'he articles belonging to the D.I.C. be would use his influence with the police to prevent her prosecution. At this stage the detective returned to the room, and he informed the police officer that she admitted having taken

t'he muff. The jury retired at 6 o clock, and, after twenty minutes' consideration,! brought in a verdict of guilty upon two counts of the indictment (which contained six counts). They found,that she had stolen the sealskin muff from the! D.1.C., and that she had received the (binoculars from Solliday's, knowing them to have been stolen. His Honor deferred sentence until Saturday morning.

SENTENCED TO TWELVE MONTHS.

Wellington, Saturday. Katherine Moore was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment to-day by Mr. Justice Chapman. According to the police report she was identical with ; ; woman known as a systematic shoplifter in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.