The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1907-11-16 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

YEAR'S  IMPRISONMENT  EXTRAORDINARY DECEPTIONS.  Mrs. Chrissie Y'rice, the fashlonablydressed adventuress who was arrested in Birkenhead under sensational circumstances in September last, took her trial at Nottingham A6^iiZe6 On Wednesday and Tnursday, on charges of obtaining ty fraud .'.arge quantities of clothing, ea71,.-0 plate, and jewellery from Nottingham tradesmen. She had raised money for her defence ky selling things to which the police did not lay the claim, and Mr. Moresby White appeared for her. She looked pale and WOlll, but pleaded " Not guilty" in a clear and dignified tone. A great number of fashionably dressed ladies crowded the court, great interest being taken in the .case. Mr. P. H. Walker, who prosecuted, stated that the prisoner's alias was Catherine Louise Fraser. Her husband was a young engineer, the son of a Sussex clergyman. He detailed a number of cases where she obtained goods in Nottingham by stating that she was about to open a nursing institution in Nottingham. that she had an institution at Birkenhead, and her husband was an engineer in the city. Evidence of Nottingham witnesses having been taken,  Mr. Paul, cashier of the Birkonheed branch of the Bank of Liverpool, said that prisoner called to open an account, but when he produced the papers she said she would call the next day. She added that Fate was having letters. addressed to her at the bank front Nottingham, anti the letters came next day. Mr. Shinn, estate agent, Birkenhead, spoke of negotiationd with the prisoner for leasing a nursing home. She offered ae security a large ease of silver goods. Counsel !:tigge,ted that witness succumbed to prisoner's charms, and had lunch with her. .  "My wife wai; prce.ent," he replied, ainid6t laughter, in which the prironer, other wie engtoosed in writing voluaninothi note.; to counsel, joined. Mr. Shinn. in answer to a further (petition. 'stated that it wag Mre. Simin who invited the prt-roner to lunch, and he war: prerent. . .  , Especial interest was taken in the prisoner's own evidence given in defence. She went over much of the ground which was covered in the full details We published at the time of her arrest. She said she had nursing diplomas, also a sanitary inspector's certificate. She really intended taking a nursing home at Birkenhead, hut as the previous matron committed suicide, the local doctor advised her to have noth.  mg to do with It. All the property obtained in Nottingham was untouched. She had not seen her husband since her arrest. In cross-examination, she admitted stay in.g-ar Brighton Nursing Rome under an a&mmed name for five week 6, incurring a debt of 130. which waß not paid; and from a Hove F.tationer he obtained good.; to the value of 1720 . . . .  Detective -Superintendent Parnham in.  formed the Commissioner that the prieoner ava6 the daughter of the late Rev. Simon Fracer, of the lele of Anglee.ey. by whoee death .be benefited to the ertent of £7OO. But she ,old her intereet to her eieter for 1400. .  ?dr. White, for the priooner, oaid that had .i.he been allowed the opportunity of paying ,he would have done 00. He commented upon the fact that .he had to bear all the blame heroelf, her hueband going Acot free. .  Previous convictions were proved, one in Edinburgh of 20 days and another of 17 months at North Loudon. Sentence of two years' imprisonment was passed. The conviction in Edinburgh was nine years ago, for a series of glaring frauds, committed when the prisoner woe only about Z. 3 years of age. She had fashionable apartments; was known as Mate Fraser, of Beaufort Castle, Inverness-shire (a relative of Lord Lovat); drove about with a carriage and pair, and imposed on many tradesmen.