MISS GWYNETH MAUDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2444, 29 December 1892, Page 4

MISS GWYNETH MAUDE.

The following is from a London paper : Gwyneth Maude, eighteen, fashionably dressed, described as having no occupation, and as residing at Hyde-park-gate, Kensington, was charged on a warrant before Mr Newtown at Marlborough street with having stolen two silver salvers and a silver waiter, of the value of £165, the property of Messrs Spink & Co., of Piccadilly; also with having obtained two sealskin jackets and a muff by false pretences from the Grafton Fur Company, of New Bond street. She was further charged witli having obtained credit from the last mentioned firm to the amount of £137 under false pretences. The sworn information was to the effect that at the request of the prisoner an assistant to Messrs Spink & Sons was sent to the girl's residence with a silver salver for her inspection, instructions being given to the assistant to only part with it for cash. "When the salver was handed to her she said that she could not decide to accept it until it had been seen by her mother, who was upstairs unwell. The assistant offered to take it up to her mother, but the prisoner would not allow him, and, saying she would do so herself, left the room. A few minutes later she returned without the salver, and asked him if he would mind leaving it with her until the next day, and bring another for her mother to compare with it. As it ras then past business hours, and he would have had to take the salver to his own home, the assistant raised no objection to the proposal. On the following day he brought a second salver, and, when it had been taken upstairs by the prisoner, he was requested to leave it with the other and bring a silver waiter to go with the salvers. This he did, and also at the prisoner's request had a crest engraved upon the waiter. He then suggested that he should show her some old candelabras which they had for sale, and she acquiescing, on October 31 he took one to the house, and it was taken upstairs vby the prisoner ostensib y with the same object as in the case .of the salvers and the waiter. On the following day «it was discovered that these four articles had been pledged with different pawnbrokers in the name of Maud, on the day after that on which each was handed to the prisoner. Mr Buss, manager to Messrs Spink, called upon her on the 22nd inst., and, on his pressing for a return of the articles, was kept waiting for some time, and then given the candelabra. Afterwards he learned that it had been redeemed on that day.— Detective - sergeant Allan, C division, deposed that he and Detective-sergeant Shaddock arrested the prisoner at her residence. The front gate being locked, and a servant who came out refusing to open it, they had to climb over. After some delay they ware admitted to the housei by a- : man servant. When he read the warrant to the prisoner she exclaimed, «It ia my. mother's fault. Will it do if I return the 1 things ?"—Upon this evidence Mr Nowton remanded the accused, refusing bail. (The mother committed suicide, and a few days ago Mibs Maude was sentenced to three months' imprisonment). J