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HASTINGS AND ST. LEONARDS.
BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS
Monday.—Before the Mayor and E. Hayles, Esq.
AFFILIATION ORDER ENFORCED.
—WILLIAM WELLES, 24, painter, of Cross-street, was brought up under a warrant charged with non-payment of £1 6s. due to a young woman named Mary Spray, under an affiliation order made by the Bench in July last.
Prisoner was unable to pay the money, but promised that he would do so if the Magistrates would allow him a fortnight.
The Mayor told prisoner that unless the money was paid they had no alternative but to send him to prison. If it was not paid before four o’clock that day he must go to prison for a month, and then the amount would be increased.
Prisoner was removed in custody, but there seemed a probability of the money being paid.
AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
—Edith Vernon, (alias Sarah Rose Westwood) a middle-aged female, somewhat meanly attired, was charged with obtaining by false pretences, from Mrs. Church, of 12, Everfield-place, a mutton chop and some potatoes, value 1s., also with obtaining by false pretences from Harriet Whitnall, of 59, Marina, some grocery, meat, bread, and other articles of food, of the value of 8s.
Mary Church, of 12, Eversfield-place, deposed that on the previous Friday, a little after one o’clock, the prisoner came to her house and engaged the dining-room apartments, giving the name of Miss Vernon. She took them for a week certain, with the option of stopping a considerable time. She said she was a clergyman’s daughter and had just come down from London, and that she had a brother who was a clergyman, and who was coming down and was going to hire a bed in her house. She ordered a mutton chop and potatoes for her dinner, and after eating it, she ordered her tea for six o’clock and left. They waited up for her till 11 o’clock at night, but she did not return. Before leaving, the prisoner said her luggage was coming down from London that day.
The Mayor—Did you think her clothes suitable to one holding your apartments?
Witness—She made an excuse that she had just come from London and that her papa wished her to leave immediately, and her talking recommended her to me.
Harriet Whitnall, single woman, of 59, Marina, stated that about four o’clock on Friday afternoon, the prisoner came to her house and engaged the dining-room and two bedrooms, one of which she said was for her brother who was coming on Tuesday. She gave the name of Miss Purton, and said she was a clergyman’s daughter, and had come down to be under Dr. Adey. She ordered tea, which was supplied to her, and she slept in the house on Friday night. On Saturday she had breakfast, dinner, and tea at the house. She said she was expecting her luggage by the evening train, and she stated as an excuse for not having brought it with her, that she came to inquire of Dr. Adey which was the best part of St. Leonard’s to reside at, and her luggage had since been sent to Brighton. After tea she went out, saying that she was going to telegraph to her brother. She returned home and went to bed, and was afterwards taken into custody. She (witness) obtained the grocery and other articles of food which the prisoner had at her house.
By Supt. Glenister—It was in consequence of her assumed respectability that I got the things.
The Mayor—From the appearance of the woman, I think it was very incautious.
Supt. Glenister—She looks a great deal worse this morning, having been locked up since Saturday night.
The Mayor—It appears to me almost ridiculous that the prisoner should engage a dining room in Eversfield-place.
Supt. Glenister deposed that in consequence of receiving information from Mrs. Church, he went to 59, Marina, at eight o’clock on Saturday evening, and he believed the prisoner was then in bed at that house. He sent the landlady to tell her to get up, and she came down again, and said she refused to do so. He then went to the door and told prisoner he was a police officer, and had come to apprehend her. She inquired upon what charge, and he told her the charge of obtaining things under false pretences from Mrs. Church, and that most probably there would be a second charge against her. She said, “You cannot take me; I have engaged the room, and I shall stay here.” He told her if she did not get up he should wrap her up in blankets and take her away. He then remained outside the room while she dressed herself, and took her into custody. He asked her name there, and she told him Edith Vernon. He knew the prisoner to be a convicted thief. She was here on the 20th November, 1859, and was then charged with stealing bank notes from a letter at 5, East Ascent. The charge was not pressed, but prisoner was afterwards convicted under the Criminal Justice Act, for stealing a pair of scissors from Miss Edgars. He had since heard of her being at Worthing. That was about nine months ago, and he believed she had since been convicted, and that she had previously been convicted.
Prisoner complained that Supt. Glenister turned her out of her lodgings before she went to Mrs. Church’s. He told her that if she did not leave on Friday, he would make her leave, and consequently she went to Mrs. Church’s and she then had £4 10s. in her pocket. Had he not followed her, she should have remained there; but when she found he followed her, she took lodgings, elsewhere. Her name was Edith Vernon Purton, and as to having been there before she most positively denied that statement.
Superintendent Glenister said he did not mention what took place on Friday, because he did not wish to prejudice the case against the prisoner by anything which took place previously.
Prisoner said she considered Superintendent Glenister had been extremely insulting to her, and she had not been accustomed to the society of policemen. Her father and brother could attend to prove that her statement was correct.
Supt. Glenister remarked that nothing was found on the prisoner, although she had stated that she had £4 10s. 0d. when he went to Mrs. Church’s.
Prisoner said she was not going to let her photographs and other things come into his possession, and she had given them to some one at St. Leonards who knew her.
The Mayor told prisoner he should remand her till Thursday, and advised her to reserve her defence till then.
— South Eastern Advertiser, Saturday 28 February 1863 source