A RUSSIAN “PRINCESS.”
ARRESTED AT ASHBURTON STATION.
SPENDS NIGHT IN THE LOCKUP. Ashburton, March 14. Prom her grand palaces at Moscow and Petrograd and her lovely little villa at Monte Carlo the “Grand Duchess Princess Tvanoviteli,” or to use her numerous English names Harriet Rushford Henrietta Southall Fuller was a visitor to Ashburton yesterday as a first offending inebriate and was a guest at His Majesty’s. local lock-up. Mrs Fuller arrived at Ashburton yesterday by the Ohristchurch-Dunedin express in a “beastly state of drunkenness,” according to evidence at tlie Court this morning, when a charge in accordance with her condition at the time of her arrival was preferred against her. It was stated that on leaving Christchurch, the “Princess” indulged in liquid refreshments, namely whisky. So generously did she treat herself that she rapidly became a source of great annoyance to lifer immediate lady travellers. At Rakaia, the guard decided that the “Princess” had overstepped the mark and relieved her of the whisky. Her indignation at this knew no bounds. Muddled with drink and seething with temper she achieved a remarkable state in mind, manner and untidiness. Her clothing was terribly disarranged. Her boots found rest in another part of the car and her stockings flapped about her ankles. Mrs Fuller, who js an English woman, allegedly married to a Grand Duke, who avaits her in California, became altogether too unladylike in her every action for her fellow passengers. Constable O’Gradv listened kindly to complaints when the train reached Ashburton and invited the “Princess” “to come along.” Fortunately. she was under the impression that she was to be motored to Timarit, which she thought quite nice on the part of her Ashburton friends. The journey ended abruptly at the Mona Square lock-up, where the “Princess” was lodged. When she sobered up she also woke up the entire community. For a lady of 69 summers, her voice possessed remarkable volume, and she told the senior sergeant of police that she would tell Lord Jellicoe of the “frightful insult.” The sergeant told the “Princess” that Lord Jellicoe had instructed him to put her in the cells. This calmed the “Princess” who strange to say. protested vigorously that nothing more than a cup of coffee had passed her lips. At 9 o’clock the sergeant “read the Riot Act” —for the atmosphere was rudely disturbed and neighbours were afforded a little rest. Mrs Fuller bad the modest sum of about £8 in her possession, but she also possessed an elaborate looking passport and much correspondence which certainly indicated that she was somebody somewhere. This morning the senior sergeant allowed her out on bail in a sum of £B. There was no appearance at the Court and a few interested spectators listened to the facts surrounding the simple case of drunkenness in a railway carriage. Messrs R. Clark and E. F. Nicoll, -T.’sP., were on the Bench. There was a preamble by SeniorRergenf Jackson covering the above details, the senior sergeant surprising the justices when lie said : “T his woman is supposed to lie a ‘great ‘Princess,’ who was touring the country and who has been extensively interviewed and written up in citv papers.” 'flic senior sergeant concluded with a brief reference to the “sight" and “mess” of Mrs Fuller. Further details were furnished by Constable O’Grady, who described the appearance of the accused laying emphasis on the fact that tier boots and bat were off and that her stockings were hanging down.” “She was in a beastly state of drunkenness,” said witness. “It’s a verv bad case,” observed the bench, “we will convict and inflict a line of-£3.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19230315.2.18
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2555, 15 March 1923, Page 3
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604A RUSSIAN “PRINCESS.” Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2555, 15 March 1923, Page 3
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