CREDULOUS WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15269, 5 April 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

CREDULOUS WOMEN.

PLUNDERED ANE DESEBTES. Akothes of the far too numerous tribe who roam the countiy deceiving and robbing women has been laid by the heels. Ho is Albert Edward Taylor, a shoemaker, and, in sentencing hun to , three years' penal servitude, followed by 10 years' preventive detention, the judge at Chester Assizes described him as being as wicked an habitual criminal as he had ever had before him. • An extraordinary story was told of Taylor's victimisation of women- He pleaded guilty to bigamously marrying at Birmingham, in July of last year, a shop-assistant named Fanny Johnson, but denied that; after staying one night at Macclesiiald with her, he deserted her, her box containing her money and jewellery. The prosecution, calling evidence to support the larceny charge, proved that Taylor went from,-'Macclesfield f-t&f.. Loudon, where lie made matrimonial advances to Miss Florence Westover, a barmaid,; and made presents to. her of the jewellery etolen from Miss Johnson. j /Miss Wesfcover tojd Mr." Justice......Law--' rence that prisoner promised to marry her. Ono ring he gave her contained some hair, which ha said was bis grandmother's In a supposed will found among his possessions Taylor purported to leave £20,000't0 his wife, Fanny Taylor.

• A Notorious Career. Haying been: found guilty of Taylor next stood his trial for being an habitual criminal, and-' convictions were proved against bint of stealing £18 from a lodger, and stealing jewellery from lodgings, and larceny from, furnished ftpartr raents. The last-named conviction waa at Middlesex Sessions, v/here he was ? sentenced to 10 years'l penal servitude 'and three years* ponce supervision. Taylor's matrimonial enterprises were described by Sorgeant Berry. Taylor; .he said, went to Watford in lsliv & went to church, and got acquainted with, a youhg -lady named Miss Wonlridge; and was " asked" in church, I>ut he stole her J'ewellery, valued at £60, and absconded, )n the same day he obtained £10 from a friend of Miss Woolridge'a, representing himself to bo a grandmaster of the Jjiosmaspnsj 'and saying he would initiate him with the money. He then_got acquainted at Fnlham with , Miss Westover, was " asked" in church, and stole her watch. He obtained £10 from a gentleman at the Cook :Hotel, ffulham, by a cheque which turned but to be one/Stolen frontt Maccies-' fiold. -At Maida ; Vale Taylor became acquainted with; a Miss Surridge, and itheir wedding was arranged. He: took her to Maple's,, and ordered furniture value, of nearly £100, butdid ;«ot pay for it, and got £17 from Mim &wsi&g&m{h& ; pretence- that.■ ■; it ■ was to to:--pay.■• for .t^e;-;fi»nifsßT^*-: : ;;H6 : spent'the money* and then obtained of gold watch and dress ring.