A FAIR ADVENTURESS.

Franklin Times, Volume 10, Issue 798, 9 January 1923, Page 5

A FAIR ADVENTURESS.

HOSTESS OF SOLDIERS. “EFFRONTERY AND DISHONESTY. A sentence of three months imprisonment in the second division has given a temporary check to the astounding career of a. modern adventuress, Mrs Marguerita Fiske, who during the war achieved a certain measure of fame as the hostess of 34,000 wounded soldiers. She was found guilty at the Old Bailey, London, oE fraudently converting to her own use £55, the proceeds of a cheque for discounting. In passing sentence the Common Sergeant said the worst of her case was . that she had shown, herself “such a liar.” About 26 years ago, Marguerita Fiske, who is now 45, was carrying on a dressmaker’s business in Stoke Newington anc| later set up as a dentist. On one occasion “Rita” Fiske, as she called herself, brought an action for damages against the London General Ofhnibus Company, not for personal injury, but for damage to a costly musquash coat she was wearjng at the time of an alleged accident. Inquiries, however, as to the original cost of the coat and its history caused “Rita” to drop this case suddenly. Always striving to attract attention to herself,. she conceived the grandf idea of organising teas and entertainments to wounded soldiers, she having the audacity to pose as a wealthy Australian widow. On one occasion she sent out no fewer than 8000 invitations to a tea and entertainment for wounded Tommies in Widsor Great Park, and char-a-bancs and taxi/ cabs rolled up with 6000 soldiers and their nurses, who had accepted invitations. Several members of the Royal Family were present and representatives of some of the leading families in London society.

Towards the end of the year 1915, Mr Hughes, Premier of Australia, wrote from Melbourne congratulating Mrs Fiske on the good work she was doing in Britain and Sir John McCall, Agent-General for Tasmania, acted as chairman of Mrs Fiske’s entertainments for soldiers for over two years. “Rita’s” object in promoting these teas for, Tommies was not philanthropic, but to look big and try to get the coveted prefix of Dame before her name.

In that enterprise, howver, she was proved unlucky. A sequel to the colossal tea party at Windsor was an action in the High Court for the (recovery of payment for some of the good things consumed at the feast. Her defence was a curious one —that they should not expect payment for things required at such a gathering. Lord Coldridge, who tried the case, fell heavily on the wounded soldiers’ hostess, and slated her unmercifully for such effrontery and dishonesty as she had .displayed.