St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-07
GOT A COFFIN BY FRAUD.
Sad Story of a Girl Who Thought
She Was to Sing for the Prince


Sad Story Of Girl Who Thought
She Was to Sing for the Prince
of Wales.
Dalston (Eng.) Correspondence n. Y. Sun.
The case of Eliza Anne Fitzhugh, a
teacher of music, and her mother, who
were charged before Police Justice
Haden Corsey, in this place, with OBJ
tanning property under false pretenses,
is of unusual interest. because it was
very sad case, and because it pictures
curious phase of English society.
Miss FitZhugh was young woman of
good repute, who had fine and we'll
trained voice, and in 1888 was making
enough money to support herself and
an invalid. In October, 1888, Prof.
Baldwin, who was at that time jumping
from balloon when at great height,
came to Miss Fitzhugh and asked her to
undertake the task of getting the Prince
of Wales to attend one of Baldwin's eX-
hlbitionS. He promised to give her $40
if she succeeded.
Accordingly Miss Fitzhugh got an APP
pointment to meet Sir Francis Knollys
at Marlborough house, and there sue
ceeded so well that the prince, the
princess and their three daughters at
tended the show at Alexandra palace.
Miss FitZhugh had the honor of singing
before the princely family when they
were there also, but she never got the
$40 promised to her, nor any other sum.
She had been at considerable expense
for dress and otherwise in this matter,
and so got into debt. 1t was then her
troubles began. She tried to get an APP
pointment as vocalist in the family of
the prince, and those who promised to
help her to the post told her she was
sure to succeed, and even sent her let
tiers of congratulation on the certainty
of her appointment. Relying on this,
Miss Fitzhugh neglected to try for
other pupils, and while waiting for the
appointment got deeper in debt.
Along in December, 1889, her father
died. To provide for the funeral she
went to an undertaken aud told him she
han been appointed to the post of vocal
ist in the family of the prince, and he
thereupon trusted her for the price of
decent funeral. The bill was sent to
Marlborough house. 1t happened that
Miss Fitzhugh was employed there in
another capacity, and she got the bill.
Her father wasn't dead, and she didn't
owe any undertaken fur burylng him.
So she made fuss about it.
Miss Lizzie Fitzhugh, on being asked
to explain. at once told the whole story
truthfully. The undertaken, John Gray,
of Seven Sisters road. offered to forgive
her the debt, but the princes household
would not allow that.
Meantime Mrs. Fitzhugh, the mother
of the teacher believing that the APP
pointment had been already made, had
obtained credit elsewhere for food by
telling that her daughter was employed
by the prince. The prosecutor who
represented the prince hunted UP these
cases, and the mother and daughter
were arrested. At the trial the girl
told the whole story. She told the mag
.iStrate that her mother was perfectly
innoaent of the fraud, and the whole
blame rested upon her. The magistrate
might do as he pleased with her, but if
he would be so kind as not to send her
mother again to lie On the plank bed,
which would kill her, she would be
thankful. The younger prisoner
further told the magistrate that for the
past four years she had struggled to
keep her sick father and mother. Her
father was now dead, and her mother
very ill. She had known great priva-
tons. and had seen her father and her
mother with scarcely any food to eat.
The magistrate held the prisoners for
trial, but released the mother on her
own recognizance. ..,.5