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A CAUTION TO RYDE TRADESMEN.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
Madeline Harcourt, alias Sarah Westwood, alias Sally Rabbits, with a dozen other aliases, who has recently been liberated from Southampton gaol, subsequently took lodgings at Kelway’s Hotel. On the 11th inst., she was brought up by the police before a full bench of magistrates at Southampton, charged with obtaining food and lodgings from tradespeople at Southampton under false pretences, and was remanded until Friday last, when she was again brought up, and defended by Mr. Chitty, of Shaftesbury, who undertook to see the lady out of the town. Under these circumstances she was then discharged. Our readers will remember that this lady paid a visit to this town about ten months ago. At that time she complained of being unwell, and called on Dr. Davey, and represented herself to be the wife of Colonel Harcourt. From her representations to the Dr., she was recommended to Yelf’s hotel, where she remained a day or two, but of course omitted to pay the bill on leaving. From the hotel the lady went and took lodgings on the Strand, and the house being situated in a pleasant position, she was induced to engage them for six months certain. On the following day a cab was hired to take her to different parts of Ryde. She called on several tradespeople, grocers, wine merchants, and others, and also upon Messrs. Conduit and Chignell, who were favoured with orders. In the evening she returned to her lodgings on the Strand, and borrowed half-a-sovereign, and a warm shawl from the landlady, stating that she had a large sum of money to draw from the Bank, but as it was closed she could not draw it. She then left being driven in the same cab, to the Pier Gates, stating that she was going to meet her servants with her luggage. The fly was left at the Pier Gates waiting the arrival of Madeline’s servants and luggage, which, however, put in no appearance, and it was ascertained that she herself had left the island by steamboat, taking with her the warm shawl which she had borrowed. Enquiries were at once made by the police, who ascertained that ‘the lady’ had just been acquitted by the Petty jury at the Portsmouth Quarter Sessions for obtaining goods under false pretences. The tradesmen of Ryde objected to prosecuting, and the next place we hear of her is at Ventnor, carrying on the same game. She was again apprehended by the police, and remanded to Newport, and at the County Petty Sessions held at Newport, she was again discharged. Shortly afterwards she again turned up at Southampton, when after several examinations, she was committed for trial at the Borough Quarter Sessions, and found guilty, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, which period has only just now expired. After her discharge, which took place on Friday last, she again appeared in Ryde, and took lodgings with Mrs. Sheath, of Selsey lodge, Simeon Street. On Saturday last, she described herself as being very poorly, and wished to see a medical man, at the same time naming Dr. Barrow, who was accordingly sent for. Unfortunately, however, for the lady, Dr. Barrow could not attend, but sent Dr. Davey, who, of course, had not forgotten having attended her on the previous occasion. Madeline was, however, in no way disconcerted, only that she preferred obtaining the services of a medical gentleman with whom she had been previously unacquainted, and Mr. Pinniger was accordingly sent for. Whether or not she was suffering from a severe attack of kleptomania we cannot say, but the last we have heard of her is that since her indisposition, she had fallen into another scrape, and is in fact in the safe custody of Sergeant Troke, charged with having made too free with a portion of the wardrobe of a fellow lodger.
— Isle of Wight Times, Wednesday 20 November 1867 source
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A NOTORIOUS SWINDLER.
—Madeline Harcourt, alias Sarah Westwood, alias Sally Rabbits, with a dozen other aliases, has recently been in custody at Southampton, on a charge of obtaining food and lodging under false pretences, but she was discharged upon a solicitor who appeared for her promising to see her out of the town. The distinguished lady, however, appears to have a strong penchant for this county, for soon after her liberation she made her appearance at Ryde, and took lodgings with Mrs. Sheath, of Selsey Lodge, Simeon-street. On Saturday last she described herself as being very poorly, and wished to see a medical man, at the same time naming Dr. Barrow, who was accordingly sent for. Unfortunately, however, for the lady, Dr. Barrow could not attend, but sent Dr. Davey, who, of course, had not forgotten having attended her on the previous occasion. Madeline was, however, in no way disconcerted, only that she preferred obtaining the services of a medical gentleman with whom she had been previously unacquainted, and Mr. Pinniger was accordingly sent for. Whether or not she was suffering from a severe attack of kleptomania we cannot say, but the last we (Isle of Wight Times) have heard of her is that since her indisposition, she has fallen into another scrape, and is in fact in the safe custody of Sergeant Troke, charged with having made too free with a portion of the wardrobe of a fellow lodger.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 23 November 1867 source
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RYDE PETTY SESSIONS, SATURDAY.—Magistrate in attendance: Mr. T. M. Leacock.
Edith Westwood, alias Sarah Rabbits, Lady Douglas, Mrs. Colonel Harcourt, and a number of other aliases, was brought up on remand on a charge of stealing a cloth jacket, two petticoats, and a cameo brooch, the property of Miss Ida McKay, of Flora Cottage, Melville-street.
—It appeared that defendant took lodgings at the house, and on the previous day became so friendly with the prosecutrix that she wore the articles then produced by Serjeant Troke, and which Miss McKay identified as her property. She had never offered to lend them to her.
—Prisoner requested a remand for a week, as her solicitor, Mr. Chitty, could not then attend. It was fortunate for her that this request was refused by the bench, as no solicitor could have handled the case so dexterously as she did. Indeed, so well did she manage it that the magistrate did not consider that there was sufficient evidence to warrant him in committing her.
—Shortly after this the lady took lodgings in Simeon-street, and ordered a fire with tea and refreshments. On the owner asking some time after if she wished any articles ordered, she replied that she expected her servant and luggage from the Pier in the course of the evening, and then she would see to it. This aroused suspicion, and the worthy landlord, having gone to make enquiries, returned with the conviction that he had entertained the veritable Sarah Rabbits, and ordered her out of the house at once. It is now understood that she has gone to pay our Ventnor friends a visit.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 30 November 1867 source
Gotta say, refusing an adjournment until the solicitor turns up seems utterly unreasonable on the part of the magistrate.