The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-01 00:00:00

FAILURE (Ri A BANK:

'The Sovereign Advance and Deposit Bank, Birming-
ham, collapsed on Monday. The concern has been in
operation since Christmas. On Monday morning a
person called at the office and asked for a prospectus
of the terms upon which money was advanced. He
was told by a clerk that they had ceased to do busi-
ness. as things were in such a mess. Inquiries elicited
the fact that the Sheriff's officers have been in posses-
sion of the premises for a large Plllll of money during
the last 10 or 12 days, and that a sale of the effects
will take place. The Sovereign Bank has been very
widely advertised, and several cheques bearing Mr.
Smith's name have been returned. The Sheriff's
officers have noticed during their period of possession
that there have been numerous claims for money, but
no returns. Of the two clerks now remaining with the
bailiffs, one entered upon his duties shortly after
Christmas, and the other only seven or eight weeks
ago; but both of them gave a cash deposit of .£lOO as
a guarantee of their good faith. No business has been
transacted since Wednesday of last week, but several
lively scenes have taken place between the clerks and
diseßpointed sl lento.

THE NOTORIOUS MRSI JEFFERIES,
On Tuesday, just before the rising of the West-
minster Police-court, Mary Jefferies, 68, described on
the charge-sheet as a lodging-house keeper, of
Church-street, Chelsea, was brought before Mr.
Partridge on a warrant, by Inspector Adams, of the
13 division, charged with keeping, acting, and assist-
ing in the management of a house of vicious resort
at 15, Brompton-square. Mr. Forrest Fulton de-
fended. It may be remembered that the prisoner
obtained great notoriety about two years ago when
she was prosecuted at the same conrt for keeping
houses of bad repute in Church-street, Chelsea. She
was committed for trial, fined £2OO, and called upon to
find sureties 'to be of good behaviour and keep the
peace. The period for which the sureties were respon-
sible has now expired. The prisoner, whose arrest was
effected at Tharloe-place, was driven to the court in
her brougham by a liveried servant. The carriage
was in waiting outside her house when the inspector
went there with the warrant, and as she said she
was suffering from ill-health and unable to walk, she
was driven in the first place to the station and then
to the police-court. Inspector Adams deposed that
at half-pat three that (Tuesday) afternoon he saw
the prisoner in Thurloe-place, and said, "Mrs.
Jefferies ?" She said, "yes." He then said, 'I
am a police-officer, and have a warrant for your
arrest, telling her with what she was charged. Mr.
Partridge: You showed her the warrant ?—The
Witness: Yes. Mr. Partridge: She is charged under
the Summary Jurisdiction Act. Did she say any-
thing P—The Witness: Yes; she said, " Have you a
warrant? How unfortunate 1 " Her brougham then
came up, and she asked permission to ride in it. At
the station, when the charge was taken, she said
"I have not been in the house two hours
since that woman had been there." Mr. Partridge:
Who did you understand she meant by that woman?
Inspector Adams: Another person mentioned in the
warrant. Mr. Partridge asked the prisoner if she
had anything to say why she should not be remanded;
but she made no answer. Mr. Fulton said there
must be a remand, and he was instructed to ask for
bail. For the present, as the prisoner was unpre-
pared with sureties, he hoped her own recognisances
would be accepted. Mr. Partridge: Oh dear, no! It
is my duty in a case of this sort to require most sub-
stantial bail. I mutilhave tiio sureties in .£2,50 each,
and herself in £5OO. I will take one bail in £3OO
until to-morrow (Wednesday) morning. Mr. Fulton
said this might be procured, but it only wanted a few
minutes to five, the usual hour for adjournment. Mr.
Partridge: I will wait half an hour, to see if bail is
put in. Bail was not found, and prisoner was re-
moved to the House of Detention.