Zesan Zakofsky, aged 30, and Maria Pasdeska, 33, Polish subjects, appeared before Mr. Ivanoff (Russian Assessor) and Magistrate Li at the Mixed Court on Wednesday various charges of shoplifting.
The charges against them were: (1) Having stolen a lady's dress, 40 yds. of mauve voile, and a roll of black cloth, valued at $195 from Messrs. Arts and Crafts, 43 Bubbling Well Road, on April 93. (2) Stealing various articles of underclothing and three blouses, valued at $104, from the Arts Lace Ca., 93 Bubbling Well Road. (3) Stealing two drawn thread bed-covers, sained at $53, from Messrs. Ching Chang & Cp., 534 Nanking Road.
Stealing ladies' underclothing to the value of $78 from the Cathay Lace Ca., No. 19 Nanking Road. The accused were charged with being concerned with a woman already sentenced by the Russian Court in connexion with the last three charges.
Mr. J. E. Lemiere appeared for the defence.
Russian Consvt's Warnina, Det. Inspector Reeves informed the Court that some time ago the Police received a warning from the Russian Consul that shoplifters were likely to come to Shanghai, and photographs of suspected persons were furnished for the assistance of the police.
Det. Sgt. Schmidt stated that he received the photographs on the 7thof last month and arrested the.two women and the man, another man getting away. Nothing was found on the male prisoner. One of the women had a bag under her rain coat, strapped over the shoulders.
286 Avenue Joffre, where the accused lived, the police found a large quantity of goods; identified by the complainants as having been stolen. 'The Russian woman had been sentenced, to three. months' imprisonment "after trial at the Russian Court.
In answer to Mr. Lemiere, witness said that the fous were generally missed after the Russians had left the various shops. Only property actually identified had been brought into Court. When searched, the male accused was found to have $110 in his pockets, and the woman 60 cents.
Ants ann Crarrs' Oxrerrence.
Mr. H. Peppercorn, acting manager to Messrs. Arts and Crafts, recalled that, when the accuse visited the shop, they looked round but did not buy anything. He identified the woman, but the male accused was not the man who accompanied her on that occasion. They came just before closing time, and the loss was reported on the following morning. Amongst some of the stolen property which he now identified was a dress, valued at $115, one of four which he had purchased in London. There were no others of the kind in Shanghai.
In answer to Mr. Lemiere, witness said his firm were the sole agents for these dresses in Shanghai. There were no duplicates. The makers were very exclusive, and made only one dress of each pattern.
In the other cases, evidence was given that accused called at the shops and asked to look at various things, but did not buy, and that things were missing after they had departed.
A Ptea or Not-Ipentirie.
Det. Inspector Reeves intimated that he wished to give evidence, but Mr. Lemiere objected. Asked by the Assessor what it was he wished to say, Det. Inspector Reeves said he would call Det. Sgt. Smith who would say that no cases of
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