The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-30 00:00:00

FORTUNE-TELLING EXTRAORDINARY.

A WELSH PROPHETESS IN JEOPARDY,

Yesterday, at the morning sittings at the Police-
court, before Mr. Raffles, a Welsh woman named Sarah
Roberts, alias Owens, alias Williams, was brought up
by detective-officers Marsden and Redman, charged for
having obtained money under false pretences, by assum-
ing to tell fortunes. Mr. Bluck was for the prisoner.
The case created some interest. Officer Marsden said
In consequence of a letter received by Mr. Ride, one of
the superintendents of police, I, along with officer Red-
man, went on Monday evening to watch the house of
the prisoner, at 45, Finch-street ; we watched that day
and evening, and also on Tuesday. We went again
yesterday (Thursday) between two and three o'clock,
and saw two ladies go into the house—one of the ladies
is here. We waited until they came out, and then we
asked them if they were getting their fortunes told ?
and they said they were, and that the prisoner had given
them a piece of printed paper, which contained receipts
for cleaning fire-irons, furniture, glass, &c.—(laughter)
—and charged them one shilling for it. We then
arrested the prisoner.—Cross-examined by Mr. Bluck :
We were at the house before yesterday, and saw ladies
go in and come out. We had no conversation with this
lady here before she went into the house ; don't know
if the two ladies paid money to the prisoner, but this
lady says she paid her ls.—Mr. Bluck : Oh, but that
was for the receipt for the fire-irons, and you know that
is very valuable. (Laughter.)—Witness : I got a cup
with tea dross in it, which she had been tossing up, to
tell the fortunes of the ladies. (Laughter.)—I they
took the prisoner into custody, and told her the charge
was for obtaining money under false pretences, when
she showed me her legs, which are much swelled—
(laughter)—and begged hard for mercy, and said if we
did not lock her up, she would leave the town at once.
We found £5 in money, and a receipt from the bank
for £l6O, where she has it lodged.—Mr. Black : Did
you not find a letter from Mr. Snowball relative to
some business ?—Yes, I got a letter there that he had
written to some one, threatening to bring an action
against some one whom the prisoner alleged was annoy-
ing her, by hanging out clothes on a line. (Laughter.)
—Mr. Kehoe : Did you find out anything about cup
tossing ?—Oh yes, the lady here will tell you all abou
that.

Detective-officer Redman corroborated the statement
of Marsden, and added, I found a number of cards
and letters. Amongst the letters, there was one from a
:Vise :Mary H. Higginbotham, Dillman-street, Ashton-
under-Lyne, enquiring about her fortune, and stating
that the writer would recommend her to a great many
good customers in that locality. Another letter from the

same young lady, who, from the style of her composi-
tion and the character of her writing, must be a person
of intelligence and education ; and this was an apology
to "My dear Miss Roberts," for not writing before, in
reply to care 'om the fortune-teller, "but really she
could not until Pa and Ma left town, and then she
seized on the first opportunity to return her love, and to
ask for any further luck in her fortune since the last
letter." Another letter was from Surinyside, from Anne
Salisbury, informing her "dear Miss Roberts, that she
bad certain dreams about a gentleman, who used to visit
a certain house, and who used to stare at her in the
most provoking manner. She wished to know if
there was any chance of her being married to that
staring gentleman, or to any other gentleman this
year." Another epistle was from some man Nylic; signed
himself "W. Ridgway, Chester." This gentleman, it
would appear, expected a visit from "dear Miss Roberts,"
and had a phaeton and pair prepared to meet her,
but she disappointed him, " most awfully." It would
also seem that his peculiar anxiety to meet the. Welsh
prophetess was about his wife, but he " was glad to
inforit Miss Roberts that his better half had presented
him with a fine boy, and both were dioing wall" The
officer also said he fer,nd a oopy of the Daily Times
with a report of the case of Parkinson, who was sent to
gaol, a short time since, for three months, for "fortune
telling," or rather for having swindled some young
women out of money under false pretences. In that
paper were found a quantity of cards_ n 4 other:things
pertaining to the black art,
Margaret N,ichoLso.n., a handsome, smart, and modest-
looking- young lady, stated—•l live in Parron-street,
Edge-hill, and am married. I went to the prisoner's
house yesterday, between two and three o'clock; I
knew where to go, for I had heard a great deal about
her before, as a fortune teller. When I went is I
asked for Miss Roberts, and she. said, " T am Miss
Roberts." I asked her what her charge was.—
Mr. Kehoe For what ? Witness : Oh, she knew that,
I suppose. asked her what she charged for telling
fortunes. She said a shilling.—Mr. Kehofi, I sup-
pose you considered that to, be a very moderate charge.
—The witness ptit an a bland smile, that made her look
mare handsome than she really was, although, as stated,
she is very pretty. She went on to say—l had heard a
great deal of talk about her as a fortune-telling pro-
phetess before, and I went to see if she knew anything.
Mr. Kehoe : And did she tell you a gr9at, deck?,
she could not tell me anything.7Mr. Rehoe . 'Thought
so. Bqt tell the r..;,-..gistrate-wht she did tell
Witness(laughing and blushing red as an opening
moss lose) ; Why, she told me I would soon be married
to a gentleman who was under the Crown. (Laughter.)
Mr. Kehoe : Is that true ? No, for I am married already.
Mr. Kehoe : But then she must not have known that
you are already in the happy fetters of rnatrlaaany—shad
you your ring on ? No, took ii' off' before I went
into the hor,se, 'Vlie prisoner told me that if I had my
fortune told' on the cards, it would be sixpence, but if
she tried the tea-cup, it would be a shilling. (Great
laughter.)— Mr. Kehoe : Did she toss the tea-cup
Yes, she tossed the cup, first putting sore tear into it
out of a measure that had already tea, made in it.-Mr. Kehoe : What she 44 when. she tossed the
cup ? She said there was a great crowd earning,
(laughter,i told me a. great many things.—Mr.
Kehoe What did you ask her .4 I asked her about a
Certain party, and the said he was corning back
soon with a great deal of money, and that I
would be married to him all right. (Laughter.)
Mr. Kehoe Did she say what colour he was ,
blue, white, red or green ? (Roars of laughter) She
said he was of ar, exceedingly, fair Complexion.—Mr.
Kehoe Do you k'novi any one of that clescrintion:t
Not one in the world. I paid her nlax the
cutting of the cards and the'tossing of the cup. She
turned the latter rowld, 444 round, and said she saw a
large bird coming with great good news in its mouth.
—Mt. Kehoe . Anything else ? Yes; she said she
plainly saw a ring and two hearts joined very closely.
(Roars of laughter.) Did she say whose hearts they
were ? Oh, not at all.—Mr. Kehoe Lid she say,
anything else ? Yes ; she said she saw a great pea-
cock's feather, and that I was k*.g, on, the spree
next weak. (&*eat biakhter.)—Mr. : And are
you going on the spree nest week ? It is more
than I know at present, if I am.—Mr. Kehoe :
Did silo say where you were going on the spree,
and how long you were to remain ou it ? She said
I was going to New Brighton, but how long she did
not say. She spoke about Parkinson, who was con-
victed hero of fortune-tellitT, and said, if, any detectives
asked me anything, was to says she was only writing a
letter for me.—Cross-exaraimed by Mr. Bluck: I am six
months married. I did not go to inquire abAut uy hus-
band.—Mr. Block What did yard go to, enquire About ?
Nothing in particular ; but I heard so much about her I
thought I would go and see and hear what she had to
say. The lady who was with me is married, but she is
not here. She did not give the prisoner any money.
Mr. Black then made an appeal to his Worship in
behalf of the prisoner, urging her ill state of health, and
said she promised to leave the town at once if ei3oa!•ged.
—Mr. Raffles sent her to gaol t'r one rp?nty.—Mr.
Bluck applied for Ws: order to,‘ haie her property
taken care of, as she had a great deal. of valuable goods
in her house. 'The POlice said the property NFOU,I4 be taken
care of —Mr. Raffles said he.wo,nlA order the money for her
i maintenance to be stopped out of the money found in her
house.— This prophetess is about 60 years of age, :not of
forbidding appearance. She was rather handsomely
dressed.