The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-01 00:00:00

ThE FEMALE SWINDLER AT CLIFTON

Rose Douglas, the female who has been swindling trades-
people in Bristol and neighbourhood, and against whose
devices we have upon more than one occasion cautioned the
public within the last week, seems determined to get into
trouble. Notwithstanding the narrow escape she had of
being summarily dealt with by the city magistrates, on.
Monday, she has still been trying her old business on, but
with less success than formerly. Some amusing stories are
afloat as to the manner in which she has "come over" some
of the oldest medical men in this city—one of whom sent,
her home in his carriage, so pleased was he with his en-
gagement as accoucheur. It is believed by most persons'
that the young woman is of unsound mind, and the magis-
trates of this city seemed inclined to that belief. She was on.
Tuesday brought before the Mayor, Mr, H. King, and Mr.,
J. Coates, the sitting magistrates, at the Council-house,,
charged with stealing a gold -seal, the proporty of Dr Fryer..
The prosecutor stated that on Saturday the prisoner
called at his house with a young woman, whom she de-
scribed as her lady's maid, and inquired if lie thought it was.
safe for her to go to London in the "interesting situati.)n
she was in. She remained in his consulting room about
half an hour, and upon leaving promised to return in two.
hours. The two hours elapsed, however, and no " lady''
came, and the evening passed away without her appear-
ance, but on the Sunday she drove up in a respectable.
cab and wished to consult him with regard to a re-
spectable nurse whom she wished to engage. After
asking for the directions of a nurse she complained of
being faint and unwell, and asked for a glass of brandy and
water. During his temporary absence from the room his
wife entered, and the prisoner implored her for a glass of
brandy and water, and en his return he became suspicious.,
owing to her having altered her position and placed herself
near his desk. He, however, did not miss anything at the
time, but after her departure he went to Mrs. Crook's, in.
Redcliff-etreet, who told him that a lady, answering the
prisoner's description, had been there and employed a lady's
maid, but she knew nothing more about her. Whilst there
the prisoner drove up in a cab along with the girl she ha d
engaged as waiting-maid, and upon inquiring her residence
she told him she lived with Mrs. King, 29, Royal York.-
crescent. Some time after her last visit to his house he
examined his desk, and found that a gold seal had been
stolen from it, but ho could not say that the prisoner had
taken it. The seal produced was his. It had his initials
upon it, and he had had it in his desk for the last 20 years.
Mr. Williams (magistrates' clerk)—Do you wish to ask
Mr. Fryer anything P
Prisoner—All I have to say is that what he has said is
quite correct ; but I did not take the seal, I picked it up.
Police-Sergeant Beard deposed to the prisoner coming to
him on Monday, with the seal produced. She told him that
she had found it, and upon her being discharged on Monday
afternoon, owing to their being no case against her, he re-
turned her the seal. Since then, however, he had received
information of Dr. Fryer's seal having been stolen, and the
prisoner was again taken in charge.
The prisoner, when asked what she had to say in defence,
alleged that she picked the seal up on Brandon-hill.
Mr. King (to Dr. Fryer)—Had you any reason to think
she was of unsound mind P

Dr. Fryer—l thought she talked rather queer.
Mr. Williams—Was that after she had the brandy and
water ? (Laughter.)
Dr. Fryer—l think it was.
Mr. Williams—The prisoner has been going about under
a variety of names, and has represented herself as a mar-
ried person, but that is not true.
The bench remanded the prisoner in order that Mr.
Crosby Leonard might examine into the state of her mind.
—Western D ily Press.

PADDY RYAN AND THE PRINCE OF
WALES.

The Nenagh Guardian, an Irish journal, has the follow
ing amusing story :
Most of our readers know Paddy 'Ryan, formerly of
Carrick-on-Suir, and more recently of Nenagh, the manu•
facturer and hawker of Irish tweeds. Paddy, who had at
all times a great fancy for the Curragh of Kildare, was
particularly desirous of seeing the plain once again while
the Prince of Wales was staying there. He accordingly
paid a visit to tho camp during his Royal Highness's
sojourn, and determined to offer the illustrious representa-
tive of the Sovereign his dutiful respects. By dint of
stratagem he succeeded in getting into the presence of the
Prince, in his quarters. Here Paddy paid homage to his
Royal Highness, and having enjoyed this privilege, the
bright idea struck him that he might turn the occasion to
a little personal advantage, and accordingly he displayed to
the view of the prince some specimens of his ware, which
ho chanced to bring with him, at the same time treating his
royal highness, in his own peculiar brogue, to a gratuitous
dissertation on the modus operandi adopted by him in the
manufacture of the tweed, at his rural factory in Tipperary.
The prince was pleased with Paddy's power of speech, no
less than the creditable result of his industry and toil, and
to show his appreciation of both, ordered a coat of Paddy's
own manipulation. Delighted, Paddy inserted his pliant
scissors, and with lightning speed severed the making of
the coat from the favourite piece. The Prince of Wales
then ordered liberal payment to be made to Paddy for the
article, and here it was that Paddy showed he was not only
a loyal subject, but a generous one to boot. Was it Paddy
Ryan to take payment for a coat for his future king ? To
do so would be unworthy of the name he bore, the country
he belonged to, or the country that claimed him as a son.
The prince could not think of accepting the poor man's
ware on such terms, and insisted on remunerating him.
Paddy was inexorable, too, in his refusal of any sum, great
or small, for the article ; but since his Royal Highness was
SO determined on recompensing him, he did not like to
oppose his illustrious will ; and if he would only give the
dutiful liege of his august mother his autograph, merely
prefacing it by a short statement that he had bought a
coat of Irish tweed from Paddy Ryan, of Tipperary, of his
own manufacture, it was all he would ask or accept of. The
Prince at once complied, and presented Paddy with the de-
sired testimonial under his own hand. Paddy made obei-
sance and salaams without number, offered prayers for the
speedy and happy marriage of the Prince, and retired ; and
being always opposed to the principle of "hiding his talent
under a bushel," he exhibited the Prince's certificate to all
with whom he came in contact, or, rather—to bring the
favoured number into proper a limit—to such of those ho
met as would be likely to be influenced by example, parti-
cularly the example of the Prince of Wales, in taking a coat
of Paddy Ryan's tweed. The result more than realised his
expectations, as we are informed that

" From the colonel down
To the man with the crown' "
every brigade, regiment, and depot at the camp, invested in
Paddy's merchandise.