2 young women – Clara Green and Annie Morgan – were sentenced to terms of imprisonment by Newport magistrates for a series of audacious frauds, the Hampshire Advertiser reported on 18th September 1924.
The pair – who were said to have come from ‘respectable’ families – had run out of money 2 years previously, following which they lived a life of luxury by obtaining food and lodgings under false pretences.
Their career of deception came to an end when they were arrested by PC Turner in Yarmouth, who found the well-dressed women travelling in a motor car with 3 other women.
The pair had defrauded victims in Newport, Ryde, Yarmouth and elsewhere.
Giving evidence, landlady Fanny Brown from Yarmouth said the girls had arrived without luggage, claiming it had been sent to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk by mistake together with their money. They stayed for 15 days before disappearing – supposedly to make a telephone call – but never returned.
The 2 young ladies had played a similar trick on widow Mrs Collinson of Ryde, taking rooms for 6 days then departing without settling their bill as they told her they had heard some ‘very bad news’ from London.
Mrs Rosalind Wright of Newport had the same tale. Miss Green and Miss Morgan had taken advantage of her hospitality for 6 days, before leaving to meet some friends in Portsmouth without paying their 6 guinea bill (over £300 in today’s values).
The pair had defrauded 2 further landladies on the Isle of Wight, who were not called as witnesses.
Prior to their sojourn on the Island, the confidence tricksters had committed similar frauds in Islington, Pinner, Golders Green, Wembley, Watford, Great Missenden, Aylesbury, Oxford, Pangbourne, Sunning, Abingdon and Guildford. Before beginning their migratory lifestyle across the South of England, they had lived in a Paddington hotel for 6 months, which they had left owing £90 (£4,500 in today’s values).
Altogether, Clara and Annie had been guilty of cheating others of over £200 (over £10,000 in today’s values) during a 2-year period. The sum was probably far higher as not all of their activities would necessarily have been reported to the Police.
Both ladies pleaded guilty.
Writing from HM Prison Portsmouth, Annie told the court:
“I was to have a big sum of money settled upon me on marriage, with which I intended to settle with everyone. My fiance said he would help me, but owing to unforeseen circumstances has been unable to do so.
“Be as merciful as you can. I promise everyone shall be paid in full.”
Clara – in a further statement from prison – wrote:
“”My friend had excellent prospects of an early marriage. Then the worst happened. Owing to circumstances the wedding was postponed.
“We had done everything to keep respectable, and we ask the magistrates not to send us to prison.”
Green was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and Morgan – who was in poor health – to 4 months.
The Chairman of the bench told the pair:
“There were a large number of cases of fraud extending over 2 years. These frauds amounted to over £200.
“They were cruel, heartless frauds on respectable hard-working people.”
Its amazing how clean and tidy the picture above is
note to council and island roads
thats how you are supposed to look after the island.
They sound very much like the scrounging low life of today