The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-18 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY IMPOSTURE

BY A YOUNG FEMALE
(From the .North British Mail.)
To prevent the repetition of the following novel
kind of deception, we willingly give it publicity :
Oz the afternoon of Tuesday, the 29th of last month,
es two medical students were proceeding from the
Infirmary, they were met by a young girl, who was
crying, and seemingly very much excited. She in-
quired of one of them the road to Dumfries. Think -
ing this a very strange question, and as the appearance
of the girl betokened that she had met with some
serious misfortune or usage, they asked her if she
knew how far she was from Dumfries, and said that
she surely could never think of walking such a dis-
tance as that. After some further questioning, she
explained that she had been led away from her father's
house in Annan by a woman, who took her to an ir-
regular house in John -.street, but that, so soon as she
discovered the nature of this house, she took the first
opportunity of effecting her escape, and this occurred
just about three hours after she had been taken to it.
These two gentlemen, after hearing her story, sym-
pathised very much with the poor girl, and thought
that the best plan would be to take her to the
police-office, where means would be taken to get her
sent home, and, perhaps, the woman that seduced
her punished. On reaching the police office, how-
ever, they were informed by the superintendent
that it was not a case for them, and they were
referred to the Town's Hospital. The two students
then took the girl to the Town's Hospital, and
while proceeding to that place she explained, in an-
swer to the various interrogatioas that were put to
her, that her own name was Caroline Stewart, that
her father's was William Stewart, and that he was
an innkeeper in Annan. She had known the
woman who brought her to Glasgow when
she was servant with a brother of herr,
some years ago, and her name was Eliza
Smith, but had not seen her for two or
three years, before she came to Annan and took her
away. The reason she had come to Glasgow was
that she had formed an attachment to a young man
who was a cousin of Viza Smith's, who bad been
brought up in her father's house since she was five
years old, and had recently acted as ostler
to her father. As soon, however, as her father
discovered that an attachment existed between
her and this young man, he was dismissed
from her father's service, and severe mea-
sures were threatened against him if he ever
made his appearance about the house again. Tbis
did not prevent the two lovers from communicating
with each other ; for, shortly after, the "ostler" was
offered employment from a friend of his in Philadel-
phia, and they resolved to elope together, get married
at Liverpool, and from thence sail immediately for
Philadelphia. They had nearly succeeded in their
design, but she was caught by her friends just before
reaching Liverpool, and brought home, where she
was locked up for three days, to prevent ber again
making her escape. The young man, minus his
sweetheart, sailed for Philadelphia, where he arrived
safely about two month ago, and from whence he had
written to his espoused a very affectionate letter.
Eliza Smith came to her to Annan, got her out from
a school she was attending, and told her she had re-
ceived a letter from Philadelphia, requesting her to
come to Glasgow, and sail from that port to her lover's
new residence, along with a sister of hie, who was now
in Glasgow waiting for her. Eliza Smith requested
her not to go home to let her parents know anything
about it, but just to come away as she was, for she
(Eliza Smith) had plenty of money to pay all ex •
penses. She listened to this advice, came to Glasgow,
and was led to the house referred to. This interesting
story, which accounted for many improbabilities
which suggested themselves on her first brief state-
ment, made the two medical students still more
interested in her case, and, on reaching the Town's
Hospital, they fully explained her situation, with
many maledictions against the nefarious conduct
of Eliza Smith. The gentlemen at that institution
said they would write to her father, and, in the
meantime, would send her down to the model
lodging-house in Mitchell-street, to be kept there
until an answer was received. A letter was con-
sequently written by Mr. Williamson, as well
as by one of the medical students, and both
were posted that evening, addressed to "Mr. William
Stewart, innkeeper, Annan." From Mr. and Mrs.
Kennedy, the intelligent superintendents of the
model lodging-house, she received every attention,
and was treated as their own daughter ; while she, on
the other hand, appeared as thankful for the kindness
shown her, and endeavoured to make herself useful by
knitting various articles, useful and ornamental, for
her kind host and hostess. She now told that, in
fleeing from the house of wickedness into which she
had been led, she had left a valuable shawl, a victorine,
a petticoat, and a gold ring which belonged to a sister'
of her's, deceased) and which bore the initials " M. S."
It was thought advisable to make some attempt to
recover these articles, consequently one of the medical
students referred to, having spoken to the policeman
on John-street "beat," brought Caroline Stewart, as
she called herself, up to this policeman, who inquired
of her the name of the mistress or the number of the
house she had been led into ; she was unable to tell
either, but this constable having gone for a friend'
of -his on an adjoining " beat," the latter
inquired of her what the house was like. On
her describing it he immediately said it was
Mrs. Walker's. So thither the four went - Mrs.
Walker, as was natural, disclaimed all knowledge of
Eliza Smith, or of this girl, and seemed to be deeply
incensed that leer house was thought to be anything
but highly respectable, but gave the two policemen
liberty to search the house as they thought proper.
The officers, knowing the 'cuteness of the customer
they had to deal with, knew that any search would
ba useless ; they, however, did give a cursory glance
through the house, but none of the articles were
found ; and, as a dernier ressort, information of the
circumstance, as well as a description of the lost
articles, were left with the officers of the detective de-
partment of the Post- office.
On Friday an answer was expected to the two
letters posted to Annan ; but no answer came.
Caroline was much alarmed, and could not understand
how her father had not himself come through or sent
an answer, but accounted for the whole in a very
natural manner, by saying that it was likely he would
have gone to Liverpool, thinking she would be again
there to sail for Philadelphia. This, with her very
simple and honest appearance, Tilted all suspicions,
and she was treated as kindly as before. She was
asked if she had any friends or acquaintance in Glas-
gow or Edinburgh; and she said that, although she
did not know Dr. Lawrie, of Glasgow, yet she was
told that he was a cousin of her mother's, and she
had a brother, a surgeon, in Edinburgh, whose
address was, " Dr. Alexander Stewart, 28, Great
King •street, Edinburgh." A letter was sent off to
that address. She also wrote a letter to her " dear
brother," detailing her unfortunate position, and re-
questing hit assistance. She addressed it as above, and
it was taken by another party to the post-office. An
answer to these letters was expected the following
day (Saturday, the 2d of this month), but no answer
came. One of the medical students who had fallen
in with her, and who attended Dr. Lawrie's surgical
class, beginuing to doubt the truth of her statements,
determined to ask that gentleman, after his lecture on
Monday morning last, it' he knew anything of Mr.
William Stewart, innkeeper, Annan ; for, if he was
such a person as Caroline represented him to be,
Dr. Lawrie could scarcely fail to know him. Ile
had been 18 years an innkeeper at Perth, and had re-
moved to Annan just nine months ago, in order to be
near a large fsrus which her grandfather bad left
him. Dr. Lawrie, however, on being asked,
knew nothing of such a person. This student's
suspicions were no less excited, when, on looking
up an Edinburgh directory, he could not find such
a name as she stated her brother's to be. This
individual, calling at the lodging-house that
evening, stated his suspicions to Mrs. Kennedy and
the girl, who commenced crying, because she
was afraid they were beginning to think her an im-
postor. Here her seeming innocence and helpless•
ness again prevailed, and she was now, if possible,
treated with still more kindness than formerly ; and
an English commercial gentleman, who occasion-
ally calls on Me. Kennedy, having taken
pity on her, and desirous of consoling her in her
unfortunate condition, took her that night to the
theatre. Mr. Williamson, of the Town's Hospital,
and the student referred to, being now anxious
to see whether there was really any truth in her
statement, resolved to write to the minister of the Es •
tablished Church in Annals, inquiring if there was
such a person as William Stewart, an innkeeper,
there, and if he had a daughter named Caroline who
was now missing. This was done, and an answer
was received on Thursday last, stating that there
was not such a person in Annan as William Ste-
wart, either as an innkeeper or in any other capacity ;
and further stating that fcur letters were lying at
the Post-office addressed to William Stewart,
inn-
keeper, Annan, two of these letters bearin the (5,
was
as-
gow, and two the Paisley, post-mark. Theg letter
ead to Mr. Kennedy,and shortly after Caroline heard
read
an answer. had been received from the clergyman
of Annan ; sbe made some trifling excuse to Air.
Kennedy—who even yet hardly doubted the truth of
her statements—to get out for a short time ; she
went out, and has never since been seen. In the
evening, information regarding her was lodged at
the police-office, but not a trace of ber has yet
been found. What renders the story more remark-
able is, that although she had frequent opportunities
of stealing valuable articles, she seemed rigidly honest.
It would almost seem, from the minister's letter, that
she has also been in Paisley. The whole affair is
a mystery, for it is impossible to imagine any object
she could have by her deceptions. She has evidently
received a good education. She seems about
seventeen years of age, has a simple, honest .and
country appearance. An observant eye might
detect that she is enceinte, and it is supposed that this