The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-19 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

Sams Hailed, aged 60,and Endly Ace Hailed, her
daughter, aged 21, two respectably dressed women, were
brought up on warrants before Mr. Knox, charged with
having, in conjunction with John Heated, the husband of
the first-named 'prisoner, conspired to defraud Mrs. Ann
Frances Dobbs of MU. and a very large amount of rent.
Mr. Smyth, solicitor, opened the ease for the prosecu-
tion, stating that the fraud was of • most extraordinary
description, and had left its unfortunate victim penniless.
Mrs. Dobbs said that in May, 1805, on the death of her
sister, 500 g. in the Three per Cent. Consols was transferred
to her. At that time she had a house, 72, Lupus-street,
Pimlico, where Mr. John Hasted, his wife and daughter,
shortly after took furnished apartments. After • little
while John Hasted said that his daughter was coining into
a great deal of money, and the mother, in the presence
of the daughter, said that the latter was about to receive
7,000 f. per annum. This was frequently repeated by
them, and in February, 184%, the younger prisoner
told prosecutrix that she had made a deed in her favour,
and had settled 601. a year upon her, at the same time
inquiring whether that was enough. She said that Lord
Wigan, who was the judge next in power under Lord
Crnnwortb, had prepared the deed, which had been lodged
in the Rank of England with other deeds. In the course
of details respecting the younger prisoner's fortune, upon
which both the women frequently spoke to her, she was
informed that the daughter was carrying on • law snit
with Lady De Fiscoe in the Court of Chancery, to prove
the will of the late Lord De Filer*, who hail bequeathed
her his fortune and title, and that she would consequently
soon become Lady De niece ; that the suit was being con-
ducted between some lawyers in Paris and Lord \% igan,
and papers and documents were repeatedly sent to the
younger prisoner to sign, which were afterwards duly
sealed by Lord Wignn, at the Lord Chancellor's office at
Hounslow. Lord Lindsay was also mentioned as a younger
brother of Lord Wigan's assisting in the cause. Firmly
believing these representations, and that the an-
nuity spoken of had been settled upon her, she advanced
the prisoners from time to time sums of money, amount-
ing in all to 11631., to effect which she sold out at 86, and
she was assured that there would soon be plenty of money
to pay her. Besides the 365/. they owed her between OW.
and Of for rent, only a few shillings for which they had
ever paid.
. .

Lnivis, one of the smumoning officers of the court,
proved apprehending the accused on the warrant. They
had removed from their former lod4ing, and he found
them occupying one room in Holland-place, Kensington.
The husband and father, John Hosted, bad left them, and
could not be found.

Mr. Smyth said that Mrs. Dobbs, from comparative
affillellee was now reduced to a humble lodging in Upper
Garden-street, Westminater. lie was in a position to
show that the younger prisoner had no suit pending in
the Court of Chancery; that no annuity had been settled
noon the prosecutnx ; and that the whole story was a dis-
graceful and heartless fabrication.
Mr. Knox said it was an astounding cane, and remanded
the prisoners, who said not a word in defence, fur a week.