The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-06-01 00:00:00

FORTUNE TELLING.

At the Westminster Police Court on Wednesday, a
badly-dressed gipsy woman, named Ann Kelly, was
charged with the following artful trick :
Mary Ann Byrne, • simple-looking servant girl, who
stated that she was born in Dublin, 'but was brought to
London at an early age, and was now 17, gave the fol-
lowing account of the transaction :—Between 9 and 10
on Tuesday morning prisoner came to the house of pro-
secutrix's master, V, Prince's-terrace, Hyde Park-
gardens, and, after having asked whether there was
any china to mend, and received an answer in the nega-
tive, she inquired whether prosecutrix would have her
fortune told. Prosecutrix made no reply, when defen-
dant proceeded to tell her that she had enemies in the
house and would soon leave her situation, and she knew
what day she would leave. She then asked for the key
of the area door, and having obtained it, on the promise
of doing something with it, she also caked for prosecu-
trix's handkerchief, and it was given to her.
Mr. Arnold: What did you suppose she wanted to do
with the handkerchief and key
Witness: I believed she was going to perform some
charm with them. (Laughter.)
Witness said that all this took place in the area. She
then requested prosecutrix to give her some money—a
bit of silver—any sized piece would do; and witness
gave her • sixpence. "She crossed my hand with silver,
and repeated her statement abort leaving my situation,
and said she knew where I was born; she also said I
should soon be married." (Great laughter.) Prosecti-
trix happened to be called away, and defendant left,
taking with her the money, key, and handkerchief.
Witness went out shortly afterwards, and, although she
had not told amused to wait, she found her at the
oorner of the West, when she said, "Have you not got
some more money for me? I have been waiting a long
time, and have spent the sixpence." Witness replied
that she had not got any more, but upon prisoner say-
ing that she would not give up the key till she had some
more, witness, in order to got the key back, gave her
Is. 6d. more, but she would not give the key up then;
the "performed some other charm" with the handker-
chief and key, and said if the former opened in proseau-
trix's hand she should require Ti. 6d. more. The hand-
kerchief did open, and the defendant then said she did
not want the money if witness had an old gown, for
which she would .wait. Proseontrix, however, who
seemed at length to have found her senses, resolved not
to give her the dress, when the prisoner came to the
door and rang the bell for two or three hours.
. . .

Defendant said that this was her first offence.
Mr. Arnold said, if it was she had begun vary [oft.
nately, as she oould not have found a more simple young
woman to deal with. She had obtained the key either
with a view of letting in some of her associates to rob
the house or to obtain more money, because ehe km*
the hold she had upon the girl. He ha() not oome across
a worse case, and should inflict the full penalty.
The prisoner was committed for three months to the
House of Correction with hard labour.