Widnes Examiner. — 1911-11-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

STRAIGHTFORWARD DEAIANG AND STRICT PRIVACY GUARANTEED. NO PRELIMINARY FEES CHARGED. NO BILLS OF SALE TAKEN. Write, stating full particulars and requirements to  J. GRlFFlN,Nfinories Chambers,Minories,Birmingbam. N.B.—Don't pay Fees or Travelling Expenses, sod don't give a Bill of Sale before appiying to me.  At the Borough Court on Tueeclty before Counoilbw 11. Roberta and other magistra•ea, Huth Miller, 7, Bartlett-street, Wavertree, Liverpool, was charged on command a ith collecting charitable contributions under false pretence.. Mr. W. B. Forshaw, solicitor, Warrington defended, ea.' prisoner pleaded not guilty' The Chief Constable outlined the facts which showed that the defendant came to Warrington a weak ago and represented herself as a collector on behalf of the Home for Destitute Children in Lower Breek-rosd, Tuebrook. She called upon two clerks at the Central Station, and obtained two small turns of money. Later she visited the police station and asked for an interview with the Chief Constable. Ile (Mr. Nicholls) saw the defendant, who made an application for the renewal of a subscription towards the home. Not being satisfied with her credentials, he refused to rensw the subscription, and subsequently elicted the information that she was not at preeent collecting for the home, but for her salary. He warned her not to continue her collection in Warrington, but later she was seen by a police officer to call upon two local shopkeepers. John George Thompson, secretary of the home, said defendant was engaged by him as a collector until two sears ago, when she was discharged. One of the reasons for the dismissal nag on account of her physical unfitnem Ile requested her to return the official book, but she failed to do no. Defendant had no right, and the home did not allow anyone to collect for her salary. In reply to the chairman witness added that it was usual for their collectors to deduct their wages and expense' from the amount collected. The Chairman: A very bad plan. Mr. Forebear' for the defence, contended that Miss Miller had been suffering from neurasthenia, and did not realise what she had done. Iler mental condition accounted for her conduct, and negatived any intention to defraud. The Chairman, addressing Mr. Thompson, said the society was not altogether free from blame in allowing the collectors to deduct their salary and expenses from the contributions. It was a loose way of doing business,  Mr. Thompson : It is the usual custom for societies In Liverpool. The Chief Constable said that on several occasions during the last four years the defendant had been cautioned by the police in Liverpool for collecting for bogus charities. From inquiries the Burnley police had ascertained that the defendant had been courting a retired slogger in Burnley, whom she met while on holiday, but the engagement was discontinued. She threatened to sue him for breach of promise, and the man gave her .e 5 as a settlement. Another threat was that she would commit suicide on Lis doorstep. The slogger was a man with fourteen children. On another occasion she inserted a notice of her death in a Liverpool paper, and the slogger, on going to Liverpool, found her very much alive. (Laughter). Mr. Forshaw : That further supports my plea of her mental deficiency. The Chairman said the Bench were quite satisfied that it was very desirable that the young lady should not have an opportunity of continuing thin kind of conduct She would have to go to gaol for one month with hard labour. .  —ii;;*defeodant was removed below, loudly protesting her innocence.