The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-11-15 00:00:00

THE SWINDLER WITH MANY NAMES.

Our active superintendent of pollee has discovered
thet a great many persons are interested in the fate of
the woman Westwood or Wyndham, in custody for
swindling at Weymouth, and has learnt a good deal of
her history. It is supposed that she is a native of
Brierley in Herefordshire, and has a sister living in
Leominster while, from its being stated that she
belongs to Shrewsbury, it is supposed that she has
friends there also. Her conduct seems to be alas that
of a lunatic, her penciant being simply to defraud.
This could not be the result of her education, for her
permits are highly respectable in middle-cleat society.
In 1800 she gave her ago as 35. She is now 51t. 2in.
I in height, slightly built, and has something of a cast
with her eye. She is fully believed to Le the person
whose career is described.. follows :—On May 19, 1557,
she was couvicted at Cheltenham, and rent to the
county gaol tat Gloucester for three months. Ic October,
1867, she was arrested for illegally pawning a watch at
I Gloucester city in the name of Sarah Westwood. This
I ease was withdrawn, and she was discbsreed with
certain remarks from the Bench. In November. 18-19,
sho was convicted by the Hastings magistretes in the
! name of Sarah Ross Westwood, for felony, and seri-
I termed to three menthe' hard labour. She has also been
in custody at Aberyetwitb. in Cardigan, for obtaining
goods by false pretenses, and also at Tenby in Pem•
brokeshire, for the same offence. The goods obtained
were of the value of 1:200, but these cues were not
considered to come within the criminal law, and were
withdrawn. On leaving Tuohy in 1861. she visited
Weston•armer•llare, and cu the name of Weetwood,
victimised the tradeenein to the extent of uearly ra:),
and hence she was hunted out of the town, but the c.ises
were not considered to be sufficiently of • criminal
nature to prosecute. Sh] then paid Bristol
a visit, and called upon • medial gentleu2an,
in whose absence she stole a case of instruments.
She was arrested, but the magistrates con.
sidered her • lunatic, and she was sent to an asylum,
whence she managed to escape. In February, 1863.
she was wandering abroad, and had • month for
vagrancy; in July of the same year she WM tried at
the Hants Quarter Sessions for laroeny, and sentenced
to twelve months' hard labour. In October, 1861, she
wee tried at Dover, and found guilty of fraud ; but got
off with 004 dsy's imprisonment. In March. 1865, she
was convicted at Brighteu of freed, and it was shown
that she had b*n previously convicted at Portsmouth
and Dover. She then gave her age as 25 years only ;
but for all that she had 18 mouths in Lewes gaol. It
is understood that she has been several times 'un-
visited at Sonthe.npton and at Portsmouth, The
details of her conviction in 1803 at Dorset Qnerter
Seasions, for fraud on Messrs Lock and Marshall, of
Blandford, will be found recorded in our papers of that
time. Besides the frauds on Mr. Penwell, fee, which
were reported list week, we understand the prisoner
went op the 18th ult. to Yaws. Lundie's, sad tendered
• written order for • quantity of groceries for Mire
Wyndham. She said that Miss Wyndham hod been
recommended by Dr. Smith to have eome stout, and it
must be the very best, because she had never had any
before in her life. She also asked for some sherry,
and seid to the &Slit tant, "You will not
think that I WU asking you any impudent
questi .na." It seems that she asked what their terms
of business were, and the assistaot replied that it was
their custom to seed weekly amounts "Ah l" she
replied "That is the Brighton way of doing basineman
She ordered the geode to be sent to Kill Wyndham at
2, Belvidere Wine, red said she had lekse the place