A "COUNTESS" AND HER DUPES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3482, 4 September 1882, Page 4

A "COUNTESS" AND HER DUPES.

At the Bettwsycoed Petty Sessions, a lady swindler giving tht name of Mella Banks, and known by the aliases of ' Briggs,' ' Willis,' and the c Countess of Porto Rico,' was brought up on remand charged with obtaining goods under false pretences, and also with the larceny of a pair of boots, the property of Mrs Butler, High-street, Bangor. For some week past the prisoner, who is believed to be a notorious swindler, has been committing a series of frauds upon lodginghouse keepers and others in Carnarvonshire and the Vale of Clwyd, victimising them in the most extraordinary manner by statements a3 to her ' high birth ' and ' unlimited means.' She is about sixty years of age, well built, and ladylike in appearance, and is handsomely dressed in black silk. Superintendent H. D. Williams (Conway) conducted the prosecution on behalf of the police. There were five charges against the prisoner, who, during the hearing, feigned to be deeply affected. Mrs Margaret Jones, Bodgwynedd, Bettwsycoed, said that on the 7th instant the prisoner undertook to occupy a sitting-room and a bed-room at her house for twelve months at £1 per week. She represented herself to be the daughter of a countess residing in the West Indies, adding that she had been in Glasgow for five years, but had now come to Wales for the benefit of her health. She further gave witness to understand that she was the possessor of several plantations in the West Indies, and that she daily expected a stud of horses from France. Upon this representation wituess gave the prisoner board and lodging. During her stay she succeeded in obtaining from witness the loan of a flannel petticoat, a pair of drawers, and a pair of socks, with which she suddenly disappeared on the Monday following her arrival, without paying her bills. Witness had spent £3 10s on the luxurious board of prisoner during her short stay. Mrs Ellen Butler,Bß,High-street,Bangor,gave evidence to the effect that on the 22nd instant the prisoner went to her residence and engaged a sitting-room, two bedrooms, and a lumber-room for luggage, promising to stay for the benefit of her health for twelve months, and agreeing to pay £1 4s weekly for the use of the apartments. Witness supplied prisoner with vituals to the value of £2 4s, and also expended on her behalf 163 for carriage hire. Her favorite beverage was milk and rum beaten up with eggs, and this witness gave her daily. Shortly after six on the Wednesday morning following the servant took the favorite beverage to the prisoner's rooms, but found that she had decamped taking with her a pair of boots, which sho had obtained as a loan. In the course of a conversation with witness, the accused said she was a widow of large means, and that she expected her sons from Oxford. Mr John Ridge, draper, Llandudno, deposed that on Wednesday, the 14th, the prisoner engaged at his house a sitting-room and two bedrooms for twelve months, at the rental of £2 2s per week. During her stay, she expressed her approval of the apartments, and gave tho family to understand that she was a native of Porto Kico. She further stated that she was the owner of nineteen large vessels, and that she was also possessed of tea and coffee plantations in tho West Indies. Other representations which she made were to the effect that sho had a cheque for £300 in her pocket, and that she expected her carriage and ponies, at the same time asking whether witness could accommodate her with stabling. Chops and beer were supplied to her shortly after her arrival, and having been refreshed with a beaten egg in rum and milk on the following morning, she ordered breakfast and left hor room, stating that sho was going to meet her sons, who were coming from Oxford. She, however, did not return, and her bills at this establishment were still unpaid. Prisoner had no questions to ask, and in reply to the charge said, ' I have nothing to say,' and affected to cry. The bench committed her for trial at the Quarter Sessions, and she was removed to Carnarvon Gaol.