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EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS BY A FEMALE
Last week, a young woman, who gave the name of Sarah Rosa Westwood, tolerably well dressed, was brought before the magistrates at Hastings, charged with stealing a letter containing half a £10 note and half a £5 note. It seemed that the letter had been forwarded to Mr. John Muras, a visitor residing at the East-ascent, St. Leonard’s, at which house the prisoner had also taken apartments, agreeing to pay 18s. a week for them. Her room was opposite that occupied by Mr. Muras, and her conduct being very mysterious, enquiries were made about her, when half-notes similar to those missing were found to have been shown by her to induce people to give her credit, and the result was that she was taken into custody, and was now charged with the offence. She was also charged with stealing a pocket handkerchief and a pair of scissors, the property of a Miss Edgar, upon whom she had called under pretence of having a child to put out to nurse, and was eventually committed for three months’ hard labour. Subsequent enquiries disclosed very extraordinary conduct of the prisoner previously, at Brighton. On her arrival at that place, as a stranger, her first step was to go to a register office in the town, and express her wish to engage a lady’s maid. Her maid, she said, had left her somewhat suddenly, and it was particularly awkward for her, as, from the accident she had sustained (one of her arms was bound in splinters), she was unable even to dress herself. She talked of her family, her connections, and hinted delicately, and with a well-feigned blush, at her forthcoming marriage with a clergyman, the Rev. W. E., incumbent of Ironbridge, near Wellington, Salop. A lady’s-maid was at length procured, approved, and ordered to go with her boxes to 41, Grand-parade. This is a lodging-house, and the lady had already been there and taken apartments. During the day she received a visit from Mr. Torre, one of the masters of the Grand Proprietary School, Brighton, to whom she represented herself as being related to Simon Watson Taylor, Esq., of 41, Grosvenor-square, London, and stated that she was godmother to his son; and as she considered the position of godmother to be one of a very responsible nature, she was desirous of placing this youth, who was about seven years of age, and heir to £30,000 a year, at a good school. Her manners and conversation entirely deceived Mr. Torre, who gave her an invitation to his house, of which she availed herself the same day. After that she was constantly calling, and being entertained at the house, but no lad was forthcoming.
This was turning the lodgings to pretty good account at once, but somehow the people of the house became suspicious, and one night they came to her at eleven o’clock, and stated that there had been a mistake about the letting of the rooms; that they had been already let; that, in fact, the parties had arrived, and were even then knocking at the door (there certainly was a knocking, and a loud one)—the lady, the lady’s maid, and the luggage must turn out. Of course the lady was highly incensed, but she had a fly called, the luggage put into it, and ordered it to drive to the Norfolk Hotel; but, as all the sitting-rooms were engaged, they were obliged to turn out again next morning in search of fresh quarters. At last they were obliged to rest content with an inn—the Kerrison Arms. Now there were peculiarities about the lady which had rather puzzled her maid. In the first place, she had no money, but plenty of cheques, which she never could get cashed. Then she had no luggage, because, not getting the cheques cashed, she could not “get the boxes from the terminus.” Moreover, she had not even such ordinary necessities of civilized life as comb and brush; but so plausible was her manner, that these matters were all explained away, and her maid was entirely deceived by her statements. The acquaintance with Mr. Torre, and his amiable lady, was evidently too good an opportunity not to be made the most of, so on Sunday Miss Westwood betook herself to Cambridge House, and was very anxious that Mr. Torre should introduce her to the incumbent of All Souls’—in order that she might take the Sacrament. This was not done; but she was asked to tea, and of course stayed, and went to chapel with the family in the evening. Next day she went to Mr. Carter, surgeon, and had her broken arm bandaged up with splinters; but when she went to pay for it, she had only a cheque, which Dr. Carter declined to cash; he also declined to oblige her with the loan of a sovereign.
On Monday evening our heroine announced to her maid that she was going to a party, and she therefore went through the ceremony of dressing, as well as a lady can “dress” without toilet requisites, dresses to change, or ornaments to put on. The latter seemed to strike her, and she suddenly expressed a wish that she had her watch, which she said was being repaired at Mrs. Glading’s, on the Cliff, where, she took occasion to say, Dr. Muir, who was her godfather, had ordered £100 worth of jewellery for her approaching marriage. The maid, who carried a watch, was on the point of offering to lend it; but fortunately did not. Miss Westwood then asked the loan of her brooch; but this she declined, as it was the dying-gift of a former mistress.
The next day passed without any special incident, except that she favoured several tradesmen with orders. At one shop she ordered £50 worth of millinery, and she also obtained a valuable velvet mantle. At another house where she had ordered goods she sent a dress to be altered and re-trimmed. This dress, it turned out, was borrowed of Mrs. Wyatt, Cliftonville, to whom she had got herself introduced, and then made use of that lady’s name as being an old friend. No money being forthcoming at the Kerrison, the suspicions of Mr. Dawson, the landlord, began to be excited, and eventually he also turned the lady and the maid out of his house, and detained the boxes of the latter for his bill—£1 19s. Happy forethought! however, Miss Westwood had already secured lodgings in the London-road, and at once drove there (the maid always paid for cabs), knocked the people up, and rested that night in peace. But the maid, inconsolable for the loss of her boxes, began to see through the matter, and next day disclosed to Mr. Neale, the landlord, the real state of affairs. Then the police were called; but the lady well knew that they could not interfere in mere cases of debt, and she went to the Town-hall with confidence. While there, the Rev. S. R. Drummond happened to enter the office, and he at once recognised her as the lady who had recently called on him relative to taking the Sacrament!
The end of all, so far as Brighton is concerned, was that a policeman was set upon the lady’s track, permanently, and he followed her as far as Patcham, where she turned round, and said, “You needn’t follow me any further, policeman. I shall not return to Brighton.” Nothing is known of the prisoner previous to her arrival at Brighton, but she has a cut across the throat, which she says was given by a desperate and jealous lover.
— South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 06 December 1859 source