A WOMAN VITRIOL-THROWER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 322, 13 January 1909, Page 4

A WOMAN VITRIOL-THROWER.

Sentence of live years' penal servitude was passed on Mabel Truelove at Berks Assizes nt Heading for throwing vitriol over Kogerson, the matron ol Heading Prison, and a Heading lady named Airs Cushan. Un tlie previous Sunday evening prisoner was seen in St. Jumcs's Kouian Catholic Church, where the two ladies were among the worshippers. At the conclusion ol the service Truelove walked up to Miss Rogerson, and accosting iier, dashed a cupful of vitriol into the matron's face. So violently was the acid thrown that All's Cushan, who happened to be standing by, received u (jnantity on hei' hands and face, and the litjuid splashed hack into the face of the prisoner, who lias lost the sight of one eye for awhile. -Miss Rogerson was in danger of her life, and at the present time she is stil 1 an inmate of Heading Hospital. Tire sight of one of the matron's «es is practically destroyed, the sight of the other is impaired, and she will hi- disfigured for life. .She will never " lit for service again. Jliss Rogerson, in her evidence, said sh« had never annoyed prisoner, haviii" always treated her kindly whenever she had eome u*der her charge. The matron denied the suggestion, made bv prisoner, that witness had tried to strangle her whilst an inmate at Heading Prison. 11l a written statement, which was handed to the Judge, Truelove said that her home was at Birmingham, where, at the age of fourteen, she was a pupil teacher at one of the. Board schools. She, however, failed to pass the examination, and her scholastic career was closed. Owing to having 710 home Truelove said she had been in the habit of taking food and tea into churches, where she had passed many a night. She wound up by declaring that slie thought it was tea she threw over Miss Kogerson. \\ hile Mr. Xash was addressing the jurv on behalf of prisoner, submitting that Truelove had been suffering from delusions for the ]mst two years, the prisoner interposed, _ and remarked: "You are no doctor. It's 110 use proving that I am mad, because I am not. I never suffered from delusions."

The prosecuting counsel said that Truelove was known in nearly every prison in the country. She "had been convicted 011 110 fewer than 127 occasions for different offences, and when-

ever she went and into whatever prism she had been put she seemed to have

jj created disturbances ami had put fear I) into the minds of the wardresses. TCvijj deuce was given that prisoner had foljj lowed wardresses about, and had inn--7 le-ted and threatened them. As a result the wardresses went in fear of the woman, who had, hi some instances, threatened to throw vitriol over tliein. Miss Pemberdy, writing from Reading Prison, said that some while ago prisoner, who was carrying a jug without a handle, tnhl her that she would like to spoil lrer face. On one occasion Truelove followed Miss Rogerson and Mis.-. Pemberdy, and addressing the former savl: "You have played vour ace, anil it is my turn to plav trumps now." The writer added that Truelore had waited outside the prison for days toher. and the wardresses had to stay indoors at great inconvenience to tlicinI -elves rather than be insulted.

Miss Bingham. writ from '(lull l'ri'<lll. snid Tnielove had followed her to •liurcli and waited outside until tlic ser-

ve was over. Truelove subsequently nseerlained that lior home was at Lane;>ster. where she had eaused a great

d.-.il (.f tnmlile to her relatives liy asking fur her nnd waiting outside tlic house.- A post eard, wliiVh Truelove acknowledged writing, was received by Miss Bingham's relatives addressed to Miss liingham herself. It sail]: "1 am coming.-- (Signed) Jack tlie Ripper."