TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 12766, 20 March 1906, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

[From Oob Special Correspondent.] LONDON, February 9. “LADY MURIEL. 7 ’ “A very sad and pathetic story,’’ said the Judge, “ for I see in the dock a woman who, if indeed she is sprung from a joiner, is a woman of undoubted, unqualified ability.” The scene was the Old Bailey, the prisoner a tall woman of striking and refined features, with large expressive eyes, and a wealth of hair most effectively coiffured. She wore a smartly-cut scarlet blouse, and altogether made an interesting figure in the dock. Margaret True Prcbble, alias “Lady Muriel Paget.” alias “Princess holtykoff,” was charged with swindling large West End houses out of considerable sums of money, by ordering expensive photographs, hand-painted miniatures, cloaks, dresses, gowns, and other costly articles on false pretences. Her life-story, to quote the words of her own counsel, ” reads more like a fairy tale than a page out of real life.” Margaret, who is the daughter of a Liverpool joiner named M'Killen, was bom on December 1. 1873. When twenty years of age a love affair brought her into trouble, and. she had to leave home and fight the battle of life alone. She trained as a nurse, and showed great aptitude for the work; but a roving spirit and expensive tastes, allied to adaptive and imitative powers of a high order, led her to pose as a lady of quality and wealth. Shrewd tradesmen were deceived, and all that she required to maintain her false position she was able to acquire on credit. Success only served to make lier more ambitious. She aspired to bo a princess, and presently blossomed forth as “Her Highness the Princess Soltjkoif.” Were any questions asked she had always her answer ready. “No, die was not the wife of Prince Soltykoff, but of his son, Prince Alexis, whoso duties kept him in Russia.” As the Princess she went to stay at the Savoy Hotel. In the book kept for the purpose she registered herself in a bold hand as the Princess Soltykoff; likewise entered in the appointment book from day to day the names of distinguished people she called upon, and smiled graciously at gilt-braided flunkeys and richlyapparrelled footmen when addressed as “Your Highness.” But exposure and disgrace came at last, and Margaret! M‘Kiilen found herself in prison for yhe term of fifteen, months. That was in 'iSOZ-o. At the expiry of her sentence she took up nursing again, and captured the heart of a young medical student named Prebble, whom she married. His friends promptly disowned tho bridegroom, who had to give up his medical career and enlist in the army, where he is now a lance-corporal of the Army Service Corps. Meanwhile the adventuress returned to the more congenial role of a lady of quality. She posed in West End shops and hotels as Lady Muriel Paget, the owner of motor-cars and large country houses, tho employer of a governess, a secretary, and a lady’s maid—a person of position and of great wealth. How she started operations in this' country, counsel went on to explain, was by sending letters to Esxnc Codings, Limited, signed “J. Davies.” “J. Davies” was supposed to be tho private secretary .of Lady Muriel Paget, but “ J. Davies” was apparently a sort of “Mrs Harris.” The note paper that prisoner used for the purpose was stamped with a coronet and a “P.” About June of last yeai' a letter arrived at Ernie Ceilings, Limited, stating that “Lady Muriel,” having heard that the firm had a miniature of her “cousin,” the Marquis cf Anglesey, would like to have it. Tho letter was addressed from “ CJharlwood street, Belgravia.” The sequel was that many letters from “J. Davies,” private secretary, followed, concluding with a call from prisoner herself as “ Lady Muriel Paget,” and orders for copies of the miniature, some dozens of photographs, and also a miniature of herself. In all, she run up a bill of seventyseven guineas. While sitting for her miniature she frequently spoke of her relative the Marquis of Anglesey, and of her secretary, and her motor-car. The goods were duly delivered to her, and the prisoner pawned the miniatures. From Debenham and Freebody, of Wigmore street, she obtained clothing worth £l2 13s fid. She wrote to the firm in the name of the “ Hon. M. W. Paget,” on note.paper stamped with a coronet from Winwick'Hall, Warrimdon It transpired that Winwick Hall was one of tho wings of tho County Lunatic Asylum, and the accused was living there as a nurse Sho had obtained the situation as “Rady Muriel Paget,” who had formerly acted as a nurse in tho South African War. . On Wednesday the prisoner was sent to gaol for .another eighteen months, and she took her sentence without flinching. A SPINSTER’S FOLLY. A. tale with a moral for shscept'bk spinsters (and some others) was told to the Rcigate magistrates the other day, when Miss Fox, a prepossessing lady, figured very reluctantly as the prosecutor of George Forsyth and his “ valet ” Thomas, who are alleged to. have plundered her mansion at Honey, in Surrey, .after having drugged Miss Fox into insensibility. It appears that Forsyth, a man of tlio Bond street “ exqukite ” type, met Miss Fox last December* in consequence of the lady desiring to l#i> * jortion of her too ample residence.

A month latex she; received a wire from Forsyth saying that ho was motoring down to Horley, ami would calf upon her. tie arrived somewhere about 8 n.m., much later than he expected, and explained the delay by alleging that • the motor had broken down at Redhill, and that he. had left 'his chauffeur and valet in charge. Presently he asked if he'could have a little whisky. Miss Fox had none in the house, so Forsyth went out, and presently returned with a bottle. He persuaded her to join him in a glass, and then they had dinner. Meanwhile Thomas arrived, and in the lady’s presence behaved as a respectful valet should towards Forsyth, whom he informed that the motor had been left for repairs at Hedhill, as there was a breakage which the chauffeur could hot make good. Thomas was duly sent to the kitchen to have sum per, and Forsyth proceeded to make himself very agreeable to his would-be landlady. In less than half an hour he wnh proposing marriage. The lady was coy at first, but though she expressed a desire to know him a little bettor before entering into any engagement, she admitted that she liked him, and on his expressing a desire to buy her a ring, she lent him one of her own in order that he might be able to get one of the proper size. Then the whisky, or • something else, began to disagree with Miss Fox." She felt ill, and had to retire to her room. Forsyth followed her, expressing his sympathy, and suggesting that he should go for a doctor. This, however. Miss Fox would not allow. Bhe asked him to get her some water, but lie persuaded her that neat whisky was a sure cure for sickness. She drank some which he handed to her, and remembered no more until the early hours of the morning, when she was aroused by the visit of police officers. After Miss Fox’s lapse into insensivility Forsyth appears to have ransacked the premises, whilst his valet kept the servants occupied downstairs. Then they decamped. On their way towards Brighton, however, they ran into a police patrol, who exhibited considerable curiosity as to the contents of the parcel Thomas was carrying. Their explanation, though plausible, did not satisfy the constable, who cajoled them to the police station, and had the parcel opened. It contained, besides an assortment of plated ware, a couple of gold watches, sundry valuable rings, and j‘T On Forsyth was found a packet of snu'f, which he tried to get rid of surreptitiounv The police, having discovered that Forsyth had been to Miss Fox’s, decided to pay her a visit. They found her very ill. and in a semi-comatose condition, her lower limbs being temporarily paralysed, but under treatment she soon recovered sufficiently identify the articles found in Forsyth’s .possession as her property. In court Miss Fox broke down and wept bitterly, and several times asked the magistrates to let the matter drop. “ Fie took the things, but I h,i give him,” was her piteous plea. Hal the Bench refused to strain the quality cf mercy in order to save the lady’s feelings and committed the prisoners for tidal.