DRAMA OF A SPOILT LIFE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3296, 15 August 1911, Page 3

DRAMA OF A SPOILT LIFE.

After living for years in affluence and luxury, Mrs Ellen Radcliffe. 3S, widow of a mining engineer, was said at the Westminster Police Court on June 2 last to have stolen jewellery of considerable value from ladies who were shoping in the West End. • Counsel said that the accused was arrested at the Army and Navy Stores for the theft of valuable rings which a lady had removed while she washed her hands, and Mrs Ratcliffe, who was fashionably dressed, was found to have in lier possession about 70 pawnbrokers’ tickets, many relating to property of the aggregate value of hundreds of pounds which had been stolen in similar circumstances. Detective-sergeant Cornelius told the magistrate that the accused had been .in a very good position, and had been the owner of a large house and other p.-,-perty at Maidenhead. Since her arrtsl she had helped the police, and goods bo the value of : ab«u A £9OO had been recovered. Witness had seen the Countess, of Damley, one of the ladies who md lost property, and understood lrom her that she was prepared to assist, the accused. On behalf of the prisoner Mr. Curtis Bennett said s,he was married at the early age of LS to a man of wealth and position. Six years ago he died, and left her well provided for, and with £B,OOO in <ash, but, taking the bad advice of certain persons, she had, to their material advantage, lost all her money and been made bankrupt. Lett with four children and penniless, she one day took a purse from a counter, and that was the first step to her present position. Sentence was passed of three months in the second division.