Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 14th March 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 8, The Female Impostor, Eliza. Tbemaine.—Th...

Page 8
Page 8
8 of 24

On this page

  • Text (4)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      The Ass1zks. Thomas Bromley, A Watchmake...

      coroner ' s inquisition . He was sentenced to transportation for life .

      248 The Ii Gj Ip-Eb,. : - [No. 364, Satt...

      248 THE Ii gj ip-EB ,. : - [ No . 364 , Sattjbdav

      The Female Impostor, Eliza. Tbemaine.—Th...

      The Female Impostor , Eliza . Tbemaine . —This ¦ wo man , -who has passed under several aliases , and -victimised many persons , was tried last Saturday at the Leeds Quarter Sessions on a charge of theft , the particulars of which we gave in the Leader of January 24 . A verdict of Guilty was returned , and she was sentenced to penal servitude for six years . Under the name of Alice Gray , she made for herself considerable notoriety in the autumn of the year 1855 by- > her impositions and her astonishing boldness of manner . Manslaughter by a Photogbapher . —The inquest on Mrs . Bunn , who was killed by an American photographer by a blow on the head , has resulted in a verdict of Manslaughter against Clark , the man in question . It -would seem that the woman -was somewhat intoxicated , as well as the man , and that there was a good deal of mutual abuse previously to the bloTW

      A Fictitious Custom-house Entry . — A person named Richard "Ware was summoned on Tuesday at the Mansion-house by the Custom-house solicitor , on a charge of clearing some goods from a vessel without his being a licensed agent , or otherwise entitled so to act , the fraud being effected by a document called " a prime entry , " which turned out to be counterfeit , and in a false name . It seemed probable that Ware ( who did not appear ) had committed the same offence before ; but , considering his youth , the Lord Mayor mitigated the penalty from 1002 ' , to 25 ? ., -with three months' imprisonment in default . The warrant of commitment was then made out .

      TeeatmehtOethe Aged Poor in w hitechapei Woekhouse . —Mr . Edmund Martin , a corn-merchant living at Mount-terrace , Whitechapel-road , applied to Mr . Hammill at the Worship-street police-court , to solicit his aid in behalf of a miserable-looking , shrivelled old man by whom he was accompanied , and who gave the name of "William Williams , and . stated his age to be about seventy-six . Mr . Martin , who liad repeatedly been at the same police-office before , for similar benevolent purposes , stated that the man in whose behalf he then appealed had formerly carried on trade for some time , in the neighbourhood of \ Vtiitechapel , by the sale offish , and such other articles as his means enabled him to purchase . Mr . Martin knew him to hate been always

      a very industrious and honest man . His business having at last failed , he made an application , about three months ago , for admission into the Whitechapei workhouse , a petition to that effect being drawn up and signed by Mr-Martin and several other respectable tradesmen in the neighbourhood . Notwithstanding this , Williams was obliged to attend at the board five times before he could be admitted to the workhouse , and , when he was at length taken in , he was put to very hard work , having to pick oakum for five hours without food . At the end of a month , the poor man was turned out , when he again called at Mr . Martin ' s house , and informed him of the fact ; in consequence of which , Mr . Martin , not being able just then to apply for aid to the magistrate ,

      took Williams into his house , and maintained him at his own expense , until other steps could be taken . The old man stated to Mr . Hammill that , while he was in the workhouse , the authorities offered to give him a shilling and a loaf of bread for three weeks , if he would go out of the house ; but he told them that that sum ¦ was useless , as ho could not possibly do anj'thing with it in the way of setting himself up in business . They therefore turned him out . Ultimately , Mr . Hammill ordered the warrant officer of the district to go to th « Whitechapel workhouse with Williams , and request that the latter might be taken in at once ; and , after some time had elapsed , the officer returned into court , and told the magistrate that the old man had been Again admitted .

      Ill-treatment of a Son . —Joseph Williams , the man charged with neglect of his son , a youth of weak intellect , has been again examined at Worship-street , and committed for trial , bail being tendered and accepted . The evidence given as to the condition of the poor lad when taken to the workhouse ( where he still remains ) was too shocking for publication . Four witnesses—the medical attendant of the family , a laundress , one of the accused ' s daughters , and the landlord of the house—were brought forward to rebut this testimony , and to showthat the youth was well cared for ; but the magistrate did not seem to place any great reliance on their evidence .

      Expekt Hoy Thieves—Thomas Bedford , a boy of fifteen , and William Bragcr , thirteen , were charged before Mr . D'Eyncourt , the Worship-street magistrate , ¦ with robbery . Georgo Payne , a shoemaker , was passing opposito the shop of Mr . Walker , a chemist at Stepney , ¦ when ho saw tho boys trying to look in nt the door . Bedford lifted Brager up to the window , and Brager said , " It ' a all right—there's no ono in tho shop ; " , on being dropped by his companion , he walked stealthily in at tlio door , the other remaining outside . Brager camo out again immediately , handed something to Bedford , and both ran off—Bedford pursued by a const alno , who took him , and Brager by Payne , to whom ho turned round in an impudent manner , and , extending his hand ,

      which vas filled with silver , said , " It'a of no use to take me back ; come , let ' s square it . " Payne , however , refused tie offer , and took him back to the shop , where Mr . Walker found he had . been robbed of more than 21 . worth of silver , the vrliole of which , was found on the hoys . They were very boastful before the magistrate , but pleaded Guilty , and were sentenced , the youngest to three months in the House of Correction , -with one private whipping , and the other to six months . Brager's face lengthened considerably at the prospect of the whipping . Tub Double Murder at Walworth . —The final examination of Bacon and his wife on the charge of murdering their two children , which was appointed for Wednesday , could not take place on that day , but was postponed for a week , on account of Mrs . Bacon being ill , witli symptoms of fever .

      The Convict George Holmes . —This notorious criminal , who was convicted of an outrageous assault upon a young girl in the West Hiding , sentenced to two years' imprisonment , and liberated by order of the Home Secretary on the ground of ill-health after a short period of inCciTceration , has again been convicted on a charge of felony , at the last Wakefield Sessions for the West Riding , and sentenced to six years' penal servitude . This Two Dbomios . —A boy of fourteen , of the name of Allen Beamish , has been examined at the Mansion

      House , and committed for trial , on several charges of obtaining money , by means of a forged order , from a fish salesman in Billinsgate Market , and of embezzling various sums of money from Ills employer , a mining broker in Union-court , Old Broad-street . —At Guildhall , a man named Henry Beamish has been committed for trial on a charge of forging his master ' s signature to two postoffice orders , one for 21 . 9 s ., and the other for 31 , 10 s . which he afterwards uttered . There was no connexion whatever bet-ween the cases .

      Ou » Workhouse System . —Three-wretched-looking women were charged "before the Lord Mayor with ringing the Mansioifc-house bell on Monday night , at a late hour , and refusing to desist when remonstrated with . The prisoners said that they had in vain endeavoured to obtain relief from the Unions , and they had , therefore , as a last resource , applied to his lordship to send them to prison , that being the only place where they could get food and shelter . They implored the Lord Mayor to grant their request , and save them the misery of applying for relief to the officers of the Unions . His lordship said it was a most shocking case ; however , he had no alternative but to send them to prison for seven days under the Vagrant Act . On hearing the sentence , one of the womea exclaimed , " God bless your lordship We truly thank you . " Middlesex Sessions . —The March General Sessions

      commenced on Monday , but the casea did not present any features of remarkable interest . Cutting and Wounding . —A lad named Michael Ga U ivanj of fourteen , was examined at the Southwark police-court on a charge of having , about a month ago , wilfully stabbed a man in the neighbourhood of the Dover-road . The mm , who is a matmaker , was walking along Swan-street , Borough , with a bundle of mats slung over his shoul < ler , when he encountered Gallivan , who called him by opprobrious names . Being exasperated , the man struck him a blow on the face , thinking lie should thus get rid of him . Shortly afterwards the boy rushed suddenly on him , and plunged his knife into the man ' s back between the shoulders . Two

      of ins fellow-labourers , who witnessed the attack , immediately came to his assistance , and pulled the knife out of the wound . Fortunately tho knife had been stopped in its progress by a bone , or the wound would probably have proved fatal . The man was conveyed to St . Thomas ' s Hospital , where he was obliged to remain until last Saturdnj' ; and Gallivan was given into custody , The man denied giving the lad the least provocation . Gallivan stated that the knife was in his hand when the man struck him , and , in raising his arm to protect himself , it slipped from his grasp , and accidentally lodged itself in tho man ' s back . He felt considerable remorse at what he had done . Tho magistrate committed liim for trial , but bail was accepted .

      Gatherings From The Law And Police Court...

      GATHERINGS FROM THE LAW AND POLICE COURTS . An action which came on for trial at Chehnsford before Mr . Baron Channel ] , but which was postponed till next Assizes , revealed a rather strange story , as far as can be judged from the statements of the counsel for tho prosecution . A Miss Martha Augusta Hills is tho daughter of an Essex , farmer , and is a remarkably handsome young woman , under twenty-ono years of age . She was taken away from her father ' s house by a Mr . Robert Ezekiel Smith , also a farinor , to whom she boro a child . Two actions—one for seduction , the other for breach of proiniso of marriage— "were brought against Mr . Smith by tho father of the young la * ly ; but they were settled by the payment of fiOf ., and an agreement to pay the costs . A Mr . Cutta , an attorney , acted iu these matters for Mr . Smith ; and a Mr . Shepherd acted for tho friends of the young lady . Between theso two legal gentlemen , a very extraordinary arrangement ( as alleged by tho prosecution ) was como to . It was to tho effect that , if tho

      young lad y would return to the residence of Mr < sm-f 1 l and reside there " as heretofore , " for a period of 3 months , he undertook to marry her at the end of ti period . Attached to this was a conditio n that T agreement was not to be shown to the father of \ lt Hills The fact crept out , however ; and Mr . SmUh and his attorney , Mr . Cutts , were indicted , under the S 3 known as " the Bishop of Oxford ' s Act , " forhavin ^ n cured Miss Hills to be debauched . On the cas J coS on for trial , the counsel for the prosecution applied ?„ a postponement to the next Assizes , on the gro-und th I Miss Hills , being again on the eve of her confinemPn > could not appear as a witness , and that her evidenced important . It was also alleged that she was most dl sirous to appear but that she was forcibly detained Z Mr . bmith , the house being taken care of by an elderiv woman , who cautiously opened the door to visitors iiJ would not admit them if they came from theyoumr la ** l f- ?" J he A ! ierha S' ™ Wteff t & aL

      ^ . . ^ Hills remained at Mr . Smith ' s house entirely of her Z free will ; and Mr . Smith put in an affidavit to that effect , adding that she was no party to this indictment and in fact disapproved of it . It was also asserted that the indictment was preferred by the attorney , Mr Shen herd , out of a feeling of malignity because he could nor " obtain from Mr . Smith the costs ( 89 Z . ) appertainim : to the previous actions , which the defendant considered exorbitant , and because the agreement to marry had not been carried out . Mr , Shepherd , it was argued was equally a party to the undertaking which had led to the proceedings , and might as well as Mr . Cutts and Mr Smith have been included in the indictment . la reply it was said that Mr . Shepherd had never suggested the living in concubinage , and that , with regard to the present proceedings , the father of Miss Hills was the prosecutor . —The trial was postponed , in order that Miss Hills might attend as a witness .

      Mr ; Broughton , the Marylebone magistrate , has announced that he will return to the donors the sums sent for the benefit of Mrs . Allsop , whose alleged misfortunes are now believed to be impositions . AH sums not recalled in a fortnight from last Saturday will be paid into the poor-box . Ellen Griffin and Eliza Field , two middle-aged women , were charged at Guildhall with sending a letter to Mr . Allingham , a surgeon of Moorgate-street , requesting Mm to transmit a sovereign to either of the accused , or to a third person mentioned in the note , on pain of being taxed with disgraceful offences . By the advice of the police , Mr . Allingham sent a farthing enclosed in a letter , which he registered , and in the corner of which he put

      a small cross as requested by the accused . A detective officer then watched the delivery of the letter to Griffin , who said to the postman that she expected the note , and that the cross in the corner was a private mark used by her and her friend in their correspondence . She was then given into custody . The woman Field was afterwards apprehended ; but the officers stated , on both the prisoners being brought up on Monday , that they were unable to prove any complicity between the two ; that they did not think it existed ; that the letter could not be shown to be in the handwriting of Griffin ; and that Field , who appeared to get her living by fortune-telling , exhibited symptoms of being out of her mind . The former was therefore discharged , and Alderman Carden ordered that the latter should be sent to the Union to be

      taken proper care of . She protested that she was in her right mind ; threatened that , if she were locked up , she would go straight to the Queen on coming out , and complain against the alderman ; and said that she would speak what she meant if she were before fifty thousand kings , and that she had been persecuted by one scoundrel or another for the last five years . An important question was raised on Monday in the Judges' Chambers under the amended County Courts Act of last session . By a provision in the Act , a Judge of the supreme courts can order the proceedings after

      verdict to be removed from a county court and execution issue as if the action had been brought , in the superior courts . In tho case of Box v . Mitchell , application was made to remove the proceedings from tho Westminster County Court . Judgment had been obtained for 40 / ., and tho expense of a judgment summons and commitment , it was stated , would exceed the expense of a ca . sa . to take the defendant into execution . Mr . Justice Crowder , after consulting with some of the other Judges , granted tlio writ to remove the proceedings into tho supreme court from tho county court .

      Miscellaneous. Tiik Court.—The Queen, It...

      MISCELLANEOUS . Tiik Court . —The Queen , it is anticipated , -will remain at Windsor until nfter her confinement . —Prince Albert held a levee on behalf of the Quccu on Thursday afternoon in St . James ' s Palace . Fzkuw . ank Night Rkfuok . —A public meeting m support of a new effort of tho committee of the 1 ' wMlano Ragged School in opening a night refuge for homeless young women was held on Wednesday evening in tho Hchoolroom , West-street , Ilolborn-hill , under the presidency of the Karl of Shaftcsbury . Resolutions approving the institution were moved and passed , tno speakers being tlio Hon . Arthur Kinnaird , M . P ., * "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 14, 1857, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14031857/page/8/