"QUEEN OF FORTY THIEVES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

"QUEEN OF FORTY THIEVES."

WOMAN'S REMARKABLE CAREER. "The Queen of the Forty Thieves"—not the popular pantomime favourite, but a notorious woman criminal was sent back into durance vile from the Clerkcnwell Sessions. In the haunts of thieves in the neighbourhoods of Islington, Clerkenwell, and the crime-infested district of Euston Road tho mere mention of tho " Queen" is sufficient to identify her person. Her presence in any one of these localities after the darkness of night had descended synchronised with many robberies. Usually tho victims are men who, to use on euphemistic phrase, had been dining," and who could not resist a conversation in the shadows with an attractive-looking woman. The " Queen," who is known to the police by almost an alphabet of aliases, including those of Georgina Blackburn, Ada Cole, Ellen Chapman. Minnie Chamberlain, Minnie Duggan, Ada Sinclair, is a naturally re-pulsive-looking woman. She has a ghastly pale face, disfigured by traces of disease, and awkward gait. But when the midnight hour had chimed, and the "Queen" sallied forth in search of plunder, she was seen to have effected a change in her appearance. Her shoulders were draped with an expensive cape one of those which bear an elaborate design in embroidery over velvet. On her head was a large picture hat with full black feathers. The pallor of her cheek had disappeared under the application of carmine, and her face, framed in a mass of wavy brown hair, was at least attractive to the strolling man whose eyes had been dimmed by drink. Her forty years were reduced by ten in the transformation. The " Queen," too, was something of an actress in her way. She could force tears to her eyes at will, and pour out a most pathetic tale with every sign of emotion, a choking sob often coinciding with the removal of the stranger's purse, his watch, or his scarf-pin. Her acting powers of simulated innocence have often deceived magistrates and juries. A victim in seizing her has not noticed a lightning movement which has transformed the property to some confederate lurking in the background, and acquittal has followed. But the "Queen" has met with her deserts many times in "playing the game." Her gaol record is as follows:—In 1889, 12 months for stealing money ; 1892, three mouths for purse snatching; 1893, throe months for watch snatching 1894, three months for stealing money; 1896, 12 months for stealing money; 1898, 15 months for purse snatching ; 1899, three mouths for stealing an umbrella; 1902, three years' penal servitude for watch snatching. The "Queen was released on ticket-of-leave in December last. Almost within a month she had taken an active part in waylaying and robbing a Mancliester joiner, named Edwin Howard. In the early hours of the morning he was in Upper-street, Islington, The "Queen" insinuate.:! herself into his company. Tn a quiet side street a man approached the couple, and Howard reeled under a heavy blow. In a second his money, about 21s, and his scarf-pin had been snatched from him. The victim, however, recovered quickly and succeeded in running the "Queen" down. At the Sessions she was ordered eighteen months' hard labour, and she will also have to serve out the remainder of her last sentence;, about twelve months. .