MISTRESSES DEFRAUDED

Evening Star, Issue 19772, 24 January 1928, Page 10

MISTRESSES DEFRAUDED

MILLIONS AND MYTH. The Mythical Millions case—so culled because of statements made by accused —ended at Lincoln Assizes (Jtng--1 and), when Louisa Johnson, thirtythree, lady’s companion, pleaded guilty to twenty counts of stealing and converting the moneys of Miss Martha Gatford and .Mrs Lavinia Playford, and ten counts of forgery and fraudulent conversion. Mr A. M Lyons, prosecuting, said that seven years ago tho prisoner was engaged by Mrs Playford as housemaid, and later became companion to Mrs Playford and Miss Gatford. Two years ago she claimed to bo coming into a lot of money, and produced correspondence purporting to come from an uncle, who was later supposed to have died, and left her a largo fortune. She had letters typed in London addressed to herself, and the suspicions of tho typist being aroused, she comnlunicaeci with the London police. Johnson told the old ladies that fhe could obtain better investments for them, and they both withdrew money from other banks and handed ; t, io her to be put into tho Lincoln Swings Bank, but Johnson converted the 1 money and forged entries in a savings hank passbook purporting to show that the money had been paid in. the total amount was £492. Mr Wright, who defended, said that Johnson had been a devoted servant, as was shown by the fact that her employers had no ill-feeling toward her and wrote to her while she was in prison, hoping that she would sooi *•© back with them. 5 She nursed the late Mr Phiytord in his last illness with great care and devotion, and had behaved otherwise vith every care and propriety. It was tier first offence. , Johnson sobbed bitterly during her counsel’s speech. Mr Justice Swift sentenced the prisoner to three months in the second division, taking into account tho fact that she had already been three months I in gaol.