| Hats for Friend
A SHOP GIRL SENTENCED. SYDNEY, Sunday.
Essie Muriel Wellings, 24, appeared before the Central Police Court, on a charge of stealing two ladies' hats, value £2 15s, the property of David Jones and Company, Barrack-street, Sydney. The evidence was that the girl had been employed by the firm for seven or eight years as saleswoman, and was in a position to dispatch hats from the establishment. She was interviewed at Woy Woy by Detective Robson, who showed her some dockets, and said, "Can you explain the reason for making additions to these dockets in pencil? You will see that most of these hats have been sent to the one address in Beach-street, Darling Point.' She replied', 'Yes, I sent those hats there.' "Did you get paid for them?" asked the detective. she said, "Yes." Asked if she had paid the money in to the firm, she replied, "No, I told some of my friends that I could get hats cheap for them by purchasing them myself. I would send the hats to them, and received the money for them later on. Then I was afraid to pay the money in, as I would be asked some questions." The solicitor for the accused said the original intention was not to steal, but the girl grew frightened, and did not pay the money in. The magistrate (Mr. M'Farlane) sentenced her to one month's hard labor, but suspended the sentence, on sureties being found for her good behavior for 12 months. He also ordered her to make restitution of £18 to the firm, that being the total value of the hats, represented on the dockets.
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