ARREST OF ADVENTURESSES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2525, 15 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARREST OF ADVENTURESSES.

Much sensation has been caused at Perry Barr, Birmingham, by the arrests of two sisters, named respectively Alice and Harriet Woodhall, who have been living in such style at Frederick Villa, Witton Lane, Perry Barr, as to h.ive given colour to the supposition that they have been persons of means. The main facts of the case are that in ISS4 the two prisoners were in the service of an elderly gentleman of independent fortune, named John Gill, at New York, who died in a private asylum. Previous to his death his affair were investigated by his friends, and the result not proving altogether satisfactory the Woodhalls werearrested and charged with obtaining, either by threats or otherwise, a number of coupons, representing no less a sum in English money than £25 000. They were duly brought up, and were held to biil iu their own security of 810,000. This they forfeited, and so made their escape to England, and were lost sight of until the end of ISB6, at which date they were traced to Birmingham, where, it now appears, they have been living very sumptuously yet very quietly, fo; , the past three years, and by reason of their reticent habits have furnished the neighbourhood with a fertile subject for gossiping conjecture. Late on Wednesday night Inspector Tunbridge, of Scotland Yard, arrested the prisoners on an extradition warrant on a charge of forgery. Although the women have lived at Perry Barr for more than two years, very little of tlipir private affairs seem to have become known beyond the fact that almost every flay, at about three o'clock, a carriage and pair, furnished with a liveried coachman, was seen to drive up to the door and drive off in the direction of Birmingham. It is known that they invariably got out in Broad Street, but their destination seen R to have been kept so close a secret that not even the coachman knew where they went after leaving the carriage. Atwhat hour they where accustomed to return has not been observed by the neighbours. They arc between thirty and forty years of age, and of commonplace appearance,