The Express. — 1860-10-06 (London, England)

THE LATE SINGULAR CHARGE OF CHILD.  STEALING.  The following is a narrative of facts that have transpired relating to the charge made a short time back • woman named Elliott, and a man named Johnnie, of having stolen a child named Clara Tilson Smith, five years of age, under very singular circumstances. It seems that a short time back, a young woman, meanly dressed. but who had the appearance of having been brought up as • gentlewoman, and whose manners were lady-like and plessing,called at the residence of Sir It. W. (`amenn,, at eight o'clock in the morning, and requested yae4etfatly to be allowed to have an interview with thealderman. He had only just come down to breakfast wbcrthle consented to see the applicant, who was accordingly admitted. She then, in a very earnest and pathetic manner, related • pitiable story. She was the daughter of Captain of Soetbampton, an old and meritorious officer, married without his consent, and, cut off from her friends and having no IMIKOUTIXO, her husband being away from her, she was reduced to a stateof the utmost distress and misery. Sir Robert kindly put some questions to her, and asked what her intentions were and what she wished him to do in her behalf. She replied that she was most anxious to return to her father at Southampton, who, she believed, would forgive and receive her, but that all her clothes were in gawu and she bad an infant, and had no money to pay for her fare to Southampton or to redeem her clothes. Sir Robert put several questions to her, and the answers she gave, and her manners and appearance, bad such an effect that the worthy alderman, whose experience renders him • very unlikely subject to be deceived, was completely impressed with the belief of the tale that was told him. He therefore very kindly gave the applicant • couple of sovereigns, and told her immediately to redeem the articles of clothing that were necessary for herself and child and proceed at once to Southampton ; and he at the same time requested that she would write to him when she arrived and inform him of the result of her interview. The applicant gave Sir Robert the address of her father, and promised to do as he requested, dud, after thanking hint earnestly for his kindness, she left. Time rolled on and no answer was received, and at length the worthy alderman began to imagine that he had been deceived and imposed upon. About this time the woman Elliott and her reloaded husband were under examination upon the charge of stealing the child above referred to, but of coarse no idea was entertained that the woman had any to do with the imposture that had been prartisedupon the worthy alderman, and the fact was discovered in • very Amp way. The woman Elliott had been admitted to bra to appear and take her trial at the Central Criminal Court with Johnson, and just before the session Sir Robert Oar• den, who is one of the visiting justices of Newgate, hap. paned to be at Newgate in the course of his official duty when Mr. Jonas, the governor, banded him a letter, ad. dressed to Johnson, and signed Sarah Elliott, in whisk she announced her intention to commit suicide, and said that before the letter would be received she should be dead. The letter was dated terrace, Southampton, and Sir Robert at once recognised the address as the same given by the woman to whom Le bad rendered assistance under the circumstances above stated, and also the handwriting, and there was no doubt that she was the same person. Prom further inquiries that have since been made respecting her, it turns out that she really is well-connected, and that her father was formerly an officer in the navy ; but it seems that, in .nnsequence of her misconduct, she has long been discarded by her family, and Ler career has been one of a very extmordinery .nature. Of course, inquiries were instituted, as the woman did not appear at the trial, to ascertain whether there were any grounds for supposing that she had really committed suicide, but nothing whatever was ascertained that in any manner confirmed her statement, and the belief is that it was merely a trick resorted to by her to account for her nun-appearance to take her trial, and to throw the officers off the scent.