The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-17 00:00:00

THE LADY SWINDLER.

Yesterday Geraldine Meurice, described as "a
lady," of the Villa, Swanage, Dorsetshire, and
having the aliases of "Durant," " Hope," " Grant,"
" Mrs. Somerset," the " Hon. Mrs. Meurice," &c.,
charged with obtaining an emerald and diamond
ring, and divers other articles of jewellery, of the
value of £ll4, by means of false pretences, from
Mr. Douglas Cave, jeweller, of Mount-street,
Grosvenor-square, was again brought before Mr.
Tyrwhitt at the Marlborough-street Police-court.
It may be remembered that on the last occasion
it was stated that the prisoner, under different
aliases, had been carrying on a most successful sys-
tem of fraud, and that she was taken into custody
at Wareham, Dorsetshire, on a warrant obtained
through the exertions of Mr. Cave. She was re-
manded last week, that Sergeant Cole, of the C
division, might proceed to Wareham to take posses-
sion of the property obtained by the prisoner,from
the London tradesmen, a great deal being in her
possession when she was taken into custody.
Mr. Morgan, of the firm of Humphreys and
Morgan, appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr.
Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, for the
defence.

Mr. Morgan said that by direction of his worship,
Sergeant Cole went to Dorsetshire for the purpose
of having the property obtained from the London
tradesmen given up to him, but the superintendent
of police there for some reason or other declined to
let him have it, and he had therefore to ask that the
case might be allowed to stand over till the super-
intendent could be served with a Crown subpama
to produce the property.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said he thought it was understood
that the property was to be given up by the-Dor-
setshire gentleman—that was the property obtained
from the London tradesmen.

Sergeant Cole said that in Dorsetshire they could
not understand the giving up of property. They
had an idea that all the property found in the
prisoner's house belonged to her.

Mr. Morgan said he would settle the matter by
sending the superintendent a Crown subpoena. He
was prepared to go on with one case, that of obtain-
ng goods from Madame Battens, milliner, of Ber-
ners-street, the prisoner representing herself to
Madame Ruttens as the Hon. Mrs. Meurice.
Madame Ruttens, believing the prisoner was the
Hon. Mrs. Meurice, entrusted her with goods. On
a future occasion he should be prepared with other
cases.

Madame Ruttens, wife of Mr. George Ruttens, of
64, Berners-street, Oxford•street, said--I know the
prisoner as the Hon. Mrs. Meurice. She called upon
me in July last, coming in a private carriage, and
after telling me that she had been an invalid for
seven years, and that she had been lying on a sofa
during that time, she said she wanted to be restored,
and that she wanted some articles in the fashion, as
she did not know what was going on in London.
She told me that she was the Hon. Mrs. Meurice,
and I asked her to write her name in a book, and
she did so. lam in the habit of asking customers
to do so. Amongst other articles the prisoner
ordered was a blue velvet dressing gown trimmed
with antique lace. I told her that I gave no credit,
and she said she would pay for the goods on deli-
very, and that she always did so. Some of the
goods—two bonnets, two dresses, and a crinoline,
altogether of the value of £7 Bs.--were forwarded,
some being taken by the porter and some by
myself.
When I took the goods home I saw a squinting
maid; and asked to see the Hon. Mrs. Meurice. I
gave some of the goods to the prisoner and some to
the maid. I afterwards sent to say that I could not
send the other portion of the goods till I had been
paid for the first. I went a few days afterwards
and was told that the Hon. Mrs. Meurice could not
be seen, and on going to the house subsequently she
was gone, and I have not seen her since till she was
in custody.

Mr. Tyrwhitt—Was it believing that she was the
llon. Mrs. Meurice that you entrusted her with the
goods ?
Madame Ruttens—Yes. I should not have let
her have the goods if I had not thought I should be
paid on delivery.
By Mr. Lewis—l let her have the goods because
I thought she would pay me on delivery. I give
credit if I think persons arc respectable, and give a
reference.

Mr. Morgan—l have to ask that the prisoner may
be ordered to remove her veil, as there are persons
in court, I am informed, who believe that if she
does so they can identify her.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—l do not think I can interfere with
the prisoner's veil. Any person wishing to see the
prisoner with the view of identifying her will have
an opportunity of doing so when she leaves the
court.
Inspector Draper—Persons cannot identify her
with her veil over her face. (The prisoner wore a
thick veil.)
Madame Ruttens, in answer to Mr. Lewis, said—
I do not know what is the prisoner's right name. I
did make inquiries about her, and was told by her
baker, grocer, &c., that she was in the habit of
paying them. llad she left out the " honourable"
when she wrote her name I do not think I should
have let her have the goods.

Mr. Morgan—Upon this I shall ask for a remand.
Mr. Lewis.—There is a story about that the
prisoner, while in custody in Wareham, attempted
to commit suicide. I wish to state that nothing of
the kind really occurred. The prisoner put on a
dress which had been altered, and a needle, which
had been accidentally left in it, penetrated the pri-
soner's breast.

The prisoner, who was accommodated with a
seat, and kept her face concealed from a large
number of persons in court, amongst whom were
several tradesmen who had been victimised by her,
was then again remanded•

33ritioh Columbia, 6 per'

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Do. 1878
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