WOMAN AS SWINDLER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20202, 13 September 1927, Page 18

WOMAN AS SWINDLER.

AMAZING CAREER OF CRIME

MYSTERIOUS MRS MARITCH

A YEAR’S HARD LABOUR.

The amazing criminal career of a woman who lived by her wits was described at a London court recently, when Mrs Dorothea Marifch was convicted of obtaining gems worth £I3OO from jewellers by false pretences.

Detective-sergeant Sands said that Maritch had two children, and their father was Milan Maritch, a Russian subject and an ex-officer of the Russian Naval Reserve. Her story was that she visited him on board a ship in the Royal Albert Docks, where a priest of the Orthodox Church married them.

For the last year or two Mr Maritch had followed no occupation, except household duties, at his wife’s house at Herne Bay, but Mrs Maritch had spent the middle part of each week in London, returning to Herne Bay only at week-ends.

“ What is she doing in London during the week?” asked Mr Wilberforce, the deputy chairman.

” I think she has been a sort of tout to moneylenders,” replied Sergeant Sands. “ It is believed that her proper name is Amour. She has a very plausible and convincing manner, and first came under the attention of the police in 1922. Since then she has lived by her wits. She is heavily indebted to tradesmen in London, Brighton, and Herne Bay. Even the counsel who repre-sented her at the notice court, and her solicitor, I understand, have not been paid, neither have the milkmen, bakers, and butchers.”

” That's a lie ! ” shouted Mrs Maritch. “ Well, wo will leave out the butchers,’’ said Mr Wilberforce.

Sergeant Sands added that about November of 1925, Mrs Maritch became acquainted with a Mrs Rebecca Pohl, owner of a house at Ilerno Bay, who had been certified in lunacy and was in the care of friends. It was alleged that Mi's Fold's estate had been depleted to the extent of £20,000, owing to Mrs Maritch, assisted by a woman of title, with the prefix of “ Hon,” two solicitors, and a man said to have been deported from South Africa following a conviction for fraud. Airs Maritch, (he sergeant added, had been associated with a man who, under the assumed name of “ Hesketh Pearson ” —his real name was stated to be Frederick Horace Pearson—was sentenced last April Co 12 months’ imprisonment for fraud. Mrs Maritch endeavoured to negotiate a forged bill of exchange which purported to bear the signature of Brigadier-general Basil Buckley, which was handed to her by ‘‘Hesketh Pearson,” After a consultation with her counsel, Mrs Maritch still refused to reveal where the remainder of the jewellery was, although the judge warned her that continued obstinacy would mean a severe sentence. Ho postponed sentence until the following week, in order to give her every opportunity, adding: ‘‘Consider this carefully, or you will have a long while in which to consider it.”

When the accused again appeared before the court, it was stated that Mrs Maritch, while in prison, had refused to give any information about the jewellery except 'mi the condition that she was bound over.

“ If vou wish to give any information vou may do so now, hut remember I am not going to bo trifled with. This is vonr last opportunity,” said Mr Wilberioree to the woman.

.Sergeant funds said he bad (raced to a i'l-putablo firm of West End pawnbrokerr.« diamond earrings and rings, some of which had been sold outright. There was still nearly £SOO worth of jewellery unaccounted for. " There are three rings missing,” replied Mrs Maiil h. ,l The Hon, Mi's lias one, and wph regard to !,<■■ other two I don't want, to mention t!■» names in mini,"

The e.erusf'd was senleneed to 12 months’ imprisonment.