LADY “RAFFLES.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9140, 8 May 1908, Page 7

LADY “RAFFLES.”

THEFTS FROM WEALTHY HOSTESSES. New York, March 11. An extraordinary sensation has been caused by the arrest to-day of Mrs Janet Newman, a popular and beautiful society matron, on charges which she admits, and which allege her to be a lady “Raffles” of astonishing skill. Within the past few months she has stolen an immense quantity of costly jewels from the houses of her wealthy friends, with whom she was a great favourite. Well bred, highly cultured, and apparently wealthy, Mrs Newman, who occupied a handsome apartment overlooking Central Park, owned a country house at Orange, and was welcomed everywhere. She numbered among her friends many 01 the best-known ladies in New York. She was arrested at the instance of Mrs Evelyn Bell, who was responsible for her introduction to a number of eminent families. Luring a house party at Westchester, where Mrs Newman, was a guest, Mrs Bell missed a rubv ring valued at £2OOO, and which" had evidently been stolen. Three days ago, after a private dinner parry, she missed a diamond "horse-shoe, scarcely less valuable. Mrs Bell then communiwith the police, who to-day raided the fashionable apartment of Mis Newman and discovered,_ pawn tickets, showing that she received a total of £-1000 quite recently for jewels. The lady “Raffles” immediately confessed that she robbed*ner wealthy acquaintances in order to keep up-appearances and provide for the education as a gentleman of her only son. - Slia refused to disclose the name or the school of which her son is an inmate, announcing that ■while she was ready to bear punishment she

would not involve him in her disgrace. Her dupes declare sorow* fully that they regret their misplaced friendship far more even than the loss of their jewels, lor Mrs Newman captivated everyone with whom she conversed.