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RINGWOOD.
DONE BROWN. The good folks of Ringwood have recently been fleeced to a pretty little tune by a certain Miss Young, who came to reside in furnished lodgings, ran up a long bill, was introduced to drapers, gave large orders for wearing apparel, announced that she was about to be married, selected her bridesmaids, and procured wedding clothes. The intended husband did not come. Miss Young went to look for him and of course never returned. The tradesmen who trusted Miss Young now find themselves “done brown.”
— Christchurch Times, Saturday 16 March 1861 source
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WIMBORNE.
APPREHENSION OF A SWINDLER.
—An impostor, who has been about the country under the names of Miss Young, alias Robbits, alias Price, alias Roberts, and last displayed her fraudulent propensities at Ringwood, was found to have taken up her abode with a small lodging-house keeper named Dew, in this town, where she imposed herself upon her as having lately left the service of Bishop Wentworth, at Edinburgh, who had left her £20. per annum, while her savings amounted to £150., which she said was in Glyn’s bank, London. On Sunday morning, having his suspicions, Superintendent Baynton went to the house, and, upon seeing her, immediately identified her as the same person he had seen in Salisbury gaol some nine months ago for fraud, which she appeared to have quite forgotten. Information was forwarded to Ringwood, to which place she will be conveyed, to answer the charges there against her. Her apprehension caused great excitement, and the station was surrounded by a crowd of the town’s people for some time on Sunday night. In her possession were found some things stolen from her late lodgings at Ringwood.
— Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 28 March 1861 source
“Robbits” is likely a typo.
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COMMITTAL OF A FEMALE SWINDLER AT RINGWOOD.
On Tuesday last, Eliza Rabbits, alias Roberts, alias Young, alias Bessant, was brought before Charles Castleman, Esq., at the Assembly-rooms, Ringwood, charged with obtaining 10s. of Mrs. John Ward, on the 3rd of January under false pretences. There was a second charge of obtaining 10s. of Mrs. Ward on the 22nd of January. A third charge of stealing a carpet bag the property of Mrs. Ward, and a fourth charge was for stealing an umbrella, the property of Mr. George Etheridge.
Mr. Moore, of Wimborne, conducted the prosecution. The prisoner, who was undefended, seemed to treat the witnesses with politeness, but heaped on the head of the solicitor for the prosecution, in whose service she resided as a domestic servant for several months, a few years since, the greatest amount of vituperation and abuse.
Mrs. Ward proved that the prisoner had resided at her house for some time, and that while there she professed to be constantly in the receipt of letters from various parties respecting money and other property which she said she was likely to come into possession of. On the 3rd of January the prisoner obtained 10s. from her, stating that she wanted it to go to Wimborne for the purpose of seeing “Mr. Edy,” her solicitor, and signing some papers to complete the sale of five houses at Witchampton which she was about to sell to the Earl of Shaftesbury for 1,000l. Witness let the prisoner have 10s. and at her request accompanied her to Wimborne and with her to a house which the prisoner said was “Mr. Edy’s” office. The prisoner requested witness to remain outside whilst she went in. On the prisoner coming out she remarked to witness “I have seen him. That was the gentleman who entered the office just behind me. What do you think of him?” To this witness replied, “He appears to be a nice man.” Both parties then went to a brother-in-law of Mrs. Ward and took tea and returned to Ringwood in the evening. On the 19th of January she pretended to receive a letter from her brother “George,” dated from Chatham, telling her to go to Wimborne about the property, as he was unable to go himself. She went to Wimborne on the 22nd of January, accompanied by Mrs. Ward, and in order to defray her expenses borrowed 10s. of Mrs. Ward, saying at the same time that the property was sold, and she would be able to draw some money there and also at the Wimborne savings bank. They again went to the house of “Mr. Edy” (which in reality was the estate agency office of Mr. Chislett), Mrs. Ward waiting at the door. The prisoner went in and in a few moments returned, informing Mrs. Ward that Mrs. Wheeler, the mother of her “young man,” had been there and raised some obstacle respecting her marriage, and the affairs could not then be settled. Mrs. Ward then asked her if she was going to the savings bank, and she objected to go to the bank that day; they then returned home to Ringwood. On the 2nd of March the prisoner prepared to go to Wimborne again for the purpose of seeing her solicitor. This time she was going unaccompanied, carrying with her a carpet bag containing a few articles. She did not, however, go at this time, although she went to the station, but left in the evening carrying with her the carpet bag and an umbrella.
Frederick Herbert, a clerk in Mr. Chislett’s office, at Wimborne, proved that the defendant called there on the 22nd of January, and produced a book in which he made entries of the names of persons who called and the nature of their business. From the book it appeared that Miss Young called and asked a frivolous question relative to house agency. The witness also deposed that there was no solicitor named Edy in Wimborne, nor was there any person of that name who had an office there.
Superintendent Stannard, of the Ringwood division of the Hampshire police, deposed that the letters he found in Mrs. Ward’s house after the departure of the prisoner were all in her handwriting, although professedly coming from various persons. The letter dated January 19th, professedly from her “brother George” at Chatham, was also in her handwriting. Witness had supplied her with writing materials while in custody, at her own request, and had seen her write; he could therefore swear to her writing.
Superintendent Baynton, of the Wimborne division of the Dorsetshire police, proved apprehending the prisoner at Wimborne, at the house of a Mrs. Dew, where she was lodging, and finding in her possession the carpet bag and umbrella. He also proved that she was the same person he saw last year in Salisbury gaol, where she was then confined in the name of Fanny Bessant.
Mrs. Dew, who lets lodgings at Wimborne, proved that prisoner took lodgings at her house in the name of Eliza Roberts, and remained there seven days. When she accused prisoner of being “Miss Young,” of Ringwood, she declared she had never seen her in her life.
Mrs. Ward was again called to prove that she had lent prisoner a carpet bag, which she had taken away with her and never returned. The one found by Superintendent Baynton, at Wimborne, at prisoner’s lodgings, was the one she had lent her.
Mrs. Etheridge, wife of a china dealer at Ringwood, and to whom prisoner had previously given several orders, proved that prisoner called on her on the 22nd of January, it being raining at the time, and borrowed an umbrella, which she had not returned. The one found by Superintendent Baynton was the one she lent her.
The prisoner who was attired in a deep mourning dress (the same she obtained from a Ringwood tradesman on the death of her “young man’s” uncle, her cape and shawl having been taken away at Wimborne by Mrs. Dew), declined to say anything in defence, saying she would reserve it until she got to Winchester, where she hoped to have justice done her.
The prisoner was accordingly committed on all four charges to take her trial at the sessions at Winchester next week.
— Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Saturday 06 April 1861 source
“the solicitor for the prosecution, in whose service she resided as a domestic servant for several months, a few years since,” - what the hell???
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WIMBORNE.
“MISS YOUNG” AGAIN, THE FEMALE IMPOSTER.
—Information was received by the police that a lady in black, answering the description of Miss Young, of Ringwood notoriety, whose doings were described by a contemporary last week, had taken up her abode at the house of a small lodging-house keeper, named Dew, for the last week, representing that she had just left her situation in Edinburgh, stating her master, “Bishop Wentworth,” had lately died, who had left her £20 per annum for life, that she had saved £150, and had to go to Messrs Glyn’s bank, at London, to receive her money, and the landlady, Mrs. Dew, was to accompany her to London, and she would pay her fare. All was arranged, but, being short of cash, of course Mrs. Dew would pay till she got to London. Unfortunately for Miss Young, Mr. Supt. Baynton paid her a visit on Sunday morning last. He immediately recognised her as Miss Rabbitts alias Young, alias Bessant. That officer asked her if she knew the Governor of Salisbury Gaol, which she denied, and he reminded her of her incarceration there about nine months ago for fraud. The Superintendent having seen her there recognised her at once. She then called herself Bessant,—now she is Miss Roberts. Poor Mrs. Dew’s surprise may be more easily imagined than described. The journey to London vanished in a moment, although the old lady had written to her daughter to say she was coming. The lady, Miss Roberts, could not drink Wimborne beer, so poor Mrs. Dew ordered a cask of ale from the Ringwood brewery, as she was to pay liberally for her board. She produced a letter from Glyn and Co.’s bank, in answer to one she had written to know if they received deposits on interest, which they answered by declining to receive from persons having no account there. This she showed or read to poor Mrs. Dew as coming from that bank, but to a different effect. The Superintendent asked her if she would ride with him to Ringwood. She answered, “Yes, to morrow, not to-day, certainly not.” Superintendent Baynton again visited his fair friend late on Sunday night, and found some articles in her possession stolen from her late lodgings at Ringwood, and took her into custody.
She was followed by a crowd of men and boys to the station, anxious to get a sight of this female swindler, who has been doing the natives so extensively. She was conveyed to Ringwood on Monday, where she now remains, having been brought before a magistrate, C. Castleman, Esq., and remanded. Miss Young had so far beguiled her unsuspecting landlady at Wimborne, as to entirely throw her off her guard. The landlady read to her the account of her doings at Ringwood, as detailed in a paper of last week, upon which Miss Young expressed her virtuous indignation, and denounced the perpetrator of such acts of a “crafty woman.” When at Ringwood, in custody, Miss Young expressed a wish that the police would fetch the wedding cake she left at her lodgings, which had been had of a Southampton confectioner when there last, as she was hungry. The unfortunate cake had been raffled for, and consumed by some of the Ringwood folks. The cake was supplied by a Southampton confectioner, for Miss Young’s wedding.
This woman is described as about 38 years old, 5ft 4in high, very dark hair, turning little grey, red masculine face, broad forehead, and light grey eyes. She was some years ago, schoolmistress at Canford Magna National School. Miss Young has been convicted of felony, and suffered three months’ at Winchester Gaol for robbing her lodgings at Shirley, Hants. She will be brought up again at Ringwood on Tuesday next, for further examination.
— Langport & Somerton Herald, Saturday 06 April 1861 source
“She was some years ago, schoolmistress at Canford Magna National School.” Damn it. Maybe this isn’t Sarah? Could there be two of them, with such similar approaches? Canford Magna is in Dorset.
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WIMBORNE.
MISS YOUNG, THE IMPOSTOR.
—By reference to our Sessions Intelligence it will be seen, that at the Hants Easter Sessions Miss Young, alias Rabbits, alias Roberts, was tried on Wednesday, before the Earl of Carnarvon, for obtaining money and various other articles, at Ringwood, under false pretences. She was found guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour, a former conviction having been proved. On leaving the dock the noble Chairman told the prisoner that if she ever came before him again he should give her 10 years’ penal servitude. Much credit is due to Superintendent Baynton, of the Dorset Constabulary, and the other officers, for the way in which this impostor was at last brought to justice.
— Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Saturday 13 April 1861 source
I think there might have been two of them. April 1861 + 18 months = October 1862. But we’ve definitely got Sarah Westwood in Weston-super-Mare in October 1861.
If there are two of them, then the name “Rabbits” seems to be attached to both of them. What are the odds?
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THE FRAUDS AT RINGWOOD.
Eliza Rabbits alias Eliza Maria Roberts was indicted for fraudulently obtaining money and other property from John Ward, at Ringwood, on the 3rd of January last. The prisoner had also assumed the names of Roberts and Young.
The circumstances of this case were detailed at full length in our last, and the statements given in our report having been proved at the trial, the prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
— Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Saturday 13 April 1861 source
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WIMBORNE.
MISS YOUNG, THE IMPOSTOR.
—By reference to our Sessions Intelligence it will be seen, that at the Hants Easter Sessions Miss Young, alias Rabbits, alias Roberts, was tried on Wednesday, before the Earl of Carnarvon, for obtaining money and various other articles, at Ringwood, under false pretences. She was found guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour, a former conviction having been proved. On leaving the dock the noble Chairman told the prisoner that if she ever came before him again he should give her 10 years’ penal servitude. Much credit is due to Superintendent Baynton, of the Dorset Constabulary, and the other officers, for the way in which this impostor was at last brought to justice.
— Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Saturday 13 April 1861 source