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At Dorchester, on Tuesday, Sarah Westwood, with several aliases, who was convicted at Bristol in 1885, and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, was brought up in custody, charged with failing to report herself to the police, she having been discharged from Woking on ticket of leave, in February. The prisoner, who is a widow, 58 years old, and in fragile health, has been convicted 11 times, and has served no less than 30 years in penal servitude. The woman had been in Dorchester about a month, and had committed no offence beyond failing to report herself. The bench decided that she had forfeited her license, and ordered the prisoner, who was greatly agitated, to be sent back to Woking.
— Gloucester Citizen, Thursday 23 March 1893 source
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BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
YESTERDAY (Monday.)—Before the Mayor (Mr. Geo. Davis) in the chair, Mr. Ald. G. J. G. Gregory, and Mr. W. P. Genge.
A NOTORIOUS FEMALE.
SCENE IN COURT.
Sarah Edith Westwood, a widow, aged 58, alias Edith Vernon, alias Madeline Harcourt, was brought up in custody charged with failing to report herself to the police, she being a ticket of leave from penal servitude.—It was stated that the prisoner was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude on the 27th October, 1883, at Bristol, and was discharged from Woking prison on the 22nd February, 1893, on ticket of leave.
—The Mayor: Is she under police supervision?
—The magistrates’ clerk: She is abroad on ticket of leave.
—Superintendent Devenish said that the prisoner was ordered to undergo seven years police supervision after the expiration of the 10 years’ penal servitude.
—Prisoner said Captain Stockley told her on her release from Woking Prison that she was a free woman, and need not report herself.
—Supt. Devenish said the prisoner came to Dorchester on the 22nd February last, and she had been in the Dorchester police district since that date, and had had ample time to have reported herself to the police.
—Albert Curtis, manager of the “Kettledrum” Coffee Tavern, Grove Buildings Dorchester, stated that on February 22nd of this year, he saw the prisoner in High West Street. He knew her, she having stopped at his house for a period of six weeks in 1891.
—Cross-examined by the prisoner witness said that during the time she stopped in his house she conducted herself properly and paid for her lodgings.
—Patience Devote, a widow, residing at Westham, said that the prisoner came to her house on the 14th inst., and remained there until Saturday last, when she left, saying she had to go to Dorchester about some property.
—By the magistrate’s clerk: Prisoner had not paid for the lodgings.
—Prisoner: The rent is not due until to-morrow.
—Defendant made a long rambling statement to the Bench. She said she came to Dorchester on the 22nd Feb. for the purpose of finding a gentleman. She ascertained that he was dead, and then went on to Weymouth and took lodgings at the house of Mrs. Devoto’s. She denied that she had to report herself to the police.
—The Mayor said the prisoner would forfeit her license and be sent back to Woking Prison for the remainder of her term.
—Prisoner: No, you cannot send me back to Woking, because I am a free woman. No, you cannot send me back to Woking. Will you hear what I have to say. I will not go.
—The magistrates then left the bench.
—Prisoner: I will not go. You cannot make me. You cannot make me go back to Woking. Addressing the police: Give me my papers. Prisoner was forcibly removed from the court.
—Westwood has spent about 30 years of her life in prison.
— Weymouth Telegram, Tuesday 21 March 1893 source