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A Notorious Female Swindler Again.—It will probably be remembered that some time since, a young woman, calling herself Edith Harcourt Vernon, alias Sarah Westwood, alias Weston, was sent to Lewes gaol for 12 months’ hard labour for felony at Hastings. Having served out the sentence, she resumed her nefarious calling at Margate, and was again punished; this was in October last. She has now once more turned up in this neighbourhood, having robbed her lodgings in Brighton, and decamped to Lewes in a fly. When she arrived near the county gaol she got out, telling the flyman she was going to call on Mr Sanders, and he had better go on into the town and wait for her. He went, and after waiting a very long time, proceeded back without his fare. About half-past four she went to the shop of Mrs Francis, registry office, High street, and succeeded in borrowing a shilling of Mrs Francis, saying she had dropped her purse, and wanted a shilling to get back to Brighton. She also tried a similar dodge on at a little grocer’s shop opposite Mr Lipscomb, the butcher, but without success. She also called on Mr Sanders, and thanked him for his kindness to her during the time she was confined there. She had not been in Lewes long before Superintendent Jenner received a letter from Mr Chief Officer White, stating that he wanted her on a charge of robbing her lodgings. It appears that she is about 28 years of age, 5ft 1in in height, fair complexion, dark brown hair, slight make, born at Shrewsbury, is of good address, having been educated for a governess, and appears to be in somewhat delicate health. She is believed to be dressed in dark clothes. It will be seen, from our police report, that the “fair deceiver” has since been “landed” by a clever detective of the Brighton force.
— Brighton Guardian, Wednesday 18 January 1865 source
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MONDAY, JANUARY 16th.
Present: The MAYOR, M. D. SCOTT. J. ALLFREE, and W. M. HOLLIS, Esqrs.Sarah Rose Edith Westwood, 25, alias Harcourt Vernon, alias Weston, was charged with stealing a towel and a night dress.
Elizabeth Brooker, a servant employed by Mrs Goodwin, said prisoner had lodged at the house of her mistress. After she left witness missed the towel produced, belonging to Mrs France, and which had been lent to the prisoner for her use. The prisoner left in a cab without giving any notice of her intention to leave. She returned in a cab the same day, but her mistress refused to admit her.
Elizabeth Goodwin said she lived at 94, King’s road, and kept a lodging house. The prisoner came to live at her house on Wednesday last; she engaged a furnished dining room and two bedrooms. There was only herself at first, but the prisoner brought her servant about 11 o’clock the same evening. She and her servant left the house the next day without giving any notice. Prisoner told her she wanted the rooms for two months at the least, and said she might require them for six months. Only Dr Winter visited prisoner, though several gentlemen called after she had gone. Prisoner paid no money in advance, but engaged to pay weekly. After prisoner had left witness missed the towel produced from her bedroom; it belonged to Mrs France. Prisoner said she was a clergyman’s daughter, and that she had been living on the Grand parade, but that she left because it was a dull part of the town.
Detective Starley said about a quarter past nine the previous evening he apprehended the prisoner at 49, Norfolk square. He charged her with stealing the towel and night dress. Prisoner replied, “If anybody lends you anything, that’s not felony.” He then brought her to the Hall.
The charge against prisoner of stealing the night dress was then heard.
Elizabeth Goodwin said the first night prisoner took the lodgings she lent her the night dress produced, because she said her luggage had not arrived. Prisoner told her she expected her luggage the following morning, and that she should send her servant after it. She, however, left the next day without giving any notice; her servant left the same day. After prisoner left and before the servant had gone she missed the night dress, which was worth 5s.
Detective Mann repeated the evidence already given, and added that he found the night dress in prisoner’s bedroom in Norfolk Square.
The Chief Officer stated that prisoner borrowed all the money from her servant what the young woman had, amounting to 5s, and had not since paid her.
Prisoner acknowledged taking away the towel, but said she intended to return it and should have done so had she been allowed to come back. She took it to be washed as it was dirty. She could prove that she received money weekly from her guardian, a solicitor at Shrewsbury. She had been three times in a lunatic asylum. She also took the night dress away with the intention of having it washed and returning it.
The Chief Officer said he knew prisoner under three names. She had already obtained goods under false pretences from the Gloucester Hotel. The first time he formed her acquaintance was about four years ago when a clergyman told him prisoner had imposed upon him in Wales. Prisoner then left Brighton and returned about 12 months ago, and since then she had been convicted in other towns for obtaining goods under false pretences.
Prisoner was committed for trial to the Sessions.
Prisoner: I consider it a “hard case.” I have been three times in a lunatic asylum and I do foolish things sometimes. I think it very hard that I should be again shut up in gaol without having an opportunity to recover my health. I am willing to pay for the articles or to be bound over to appear at any future time, but not to be shut up in a gaol. Will you allow me bail?
Mr Scott: Yes, you may have bail; but they must be householders of this town.
The Chief Officer said it must be very substantial bail. Prisoner had already defrauded many tradesmen of the town.
Prisoner: They shall all have their goods back again.
The Chief Officer: Mr Bailey will not be able to recover his 32s worth of oysters. (Laughter.)
At the request of prisoner she was allowed bail of persons in other towns. Herself to be bound in £50 in each case, and two sureties in £25 each in each case.
— Brighton Guardian, Wednesday 18 January 1865 source