Preece Family Tree

SINGULAR CONDUCT OF A GIRL AT EXETER.

At the Guildhall, Exeter, on Saturday morning, Ada Annie Sweetland, daughter of a widow of respectable position, residing in Hopkins-place, Blackboy-road, was placed in the dock on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. Sufficient evidence was given to justify the prisoner being remanded, the effect of it being that on the previous day she called on an elderly woman, named Elizabeth Northam, the occupant of an almshouse, stating that she was the daughter of Mr. Edward Sanders, banker, and had been sent by him to say that a fowl would be sent by her father in the afternoon. In the course of conversation she asked Northam if she could change half a crown. While the latter was looking for the change the prisoner said, "Oh, never mind, you can let me have a shilling, and I will send it back with the fowl." She added that she wanted the shiling to give a boy who was looking after her horse and carriage, which was just round the corner, and further explained that the coachman and groom had gone to get some refreshment. The shilling was advanced, and the prisoner had not been seen again until the fraud was discovered. - Inspector Symes said there were other charges of a similar character against Sweetland. - Prisoner's mother, who was in court, and appeared very much distressed, said she had several children, and they were all more or less afflicted. Her eldest daughter was in an asylum, she had another in the Western Counties Idiot Asylum, and two boys at home who ought to be sent away. - The Bench admitted prisoner to bail on her mother's recognisances, the case being adjourned until to-morrow.

GUILDHALL.

SATURDAY. - Present: W. R. Bradbeer, Esq. (in the chair), the Mayor (W. Brown, Esq.), W. Brock, W. Davy, and H. Hughes, Esqrs.

Ada Annie Sweetland, a respectably dressed girl, aged 16 of Blackboy-road, was charged with obtaining 1s under false pretences. It appears that defendant went to an old woman named Elizabeth Northam, living at Lant's Almshouses, and stated that she was the daughter of Mr. E. A. Sanders, Stoke House, and had just returned from school. She promised the old woman that she would send her a fowl or a rabbit, and asked her to lend her 1s to pay a boy who was holding her carriage horses. Neither the money had been repaid nor had the rabbit or fowl been received by Mrs. Northam. - Mrs. Sweetland, who was in Court, said she thought that her daughter's mind was affected. More than one of her children were so afflicted, one being in an asylum. - Inspector Symes asked that the case might be adjourned until Tuesday for the production of further evidence. The Bench remanded the prisoner, accepting bail in the sum of £10.

EXETER QUARTER SESSIONS.

The Easter Quarter Sessions for the City of Exeter were held on Thursday before the Recorder (A. J. H. Collins, Esq. Q.C.), who was accompanied on the Bench by the Mayor (W. Brown, Esq.), the Sheriff (A. J. Hamilton, Esq.), the Under-Sheriff (W. L. Brown, Esq.), the Mayor's Chaplain (Rev. M. H. Lee Pla), W. H. Ellis, J. Lang.

GRAND JURY :- Henry Braund (foreman), R. Blackburn, J. Webber, J. Bastow, S. A. A. Aviolet, R. Grenfell, W. Badcock, H. Lamacraft, J. Honey, J. Lethbridge, R. Yendall, S. Jerred, A. Lawrence, W. Guest, A. Fraser, H. Newcombe, S. Gimblett, W. Southwood, G. B. Carlile, J. Hayman, F. Parrin, and G. Sercombe.

The Recorder, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said he was glad to inform them that their duties, as they usually were in this city, would be very light. There were two prisoners to be tried. He did not think they would have any doubt as to the case of Mary Delane, who was charged with stealing an ulster. There was another very sad case which they would have to investigate, in which a young girl named Ada Annie Sweetland, who, according to the calendar, was only 14 years of age, was charged upon three several counts, two of them for felony, and one for obtaining money by false pretences.

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ADA ANNIE SWEETLAND, 14, was charged on three separate counts with stealing a silver bracelet from Mr. B. W. Nix, High-street, another bracelet from Mr. J. E. Lake, and with obtaining from Elizabeth Northey, the sum of 1s. by false pretences. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr. McKellar, who was instructed to prosecute, stated that the police had informed him that they had twenty cases of false pretence if the Court were not satisfied with one. Mrs. Sweetland was called, and stated that her daughter was 14 on Sunday. - The Recorder asked if she could account for her daughter's conduct which had been very bad? - Mrs. Sweetland stated that her daughter had been regularly to school. It was a family affliction. She was an exceedingly nice girl, and had always been a most dutiful child. She had two imbecile sisters. They had noticed that she had been strange in her manner of late, but not to the extent that would lead anyone to suppose she would commit these thefts. She thought that if the Recorder knew the surroundings of the girl he would have some sympathy for her. - The Recorder said it was a very sad thing to see a girl of her age commencing life with a series of crimes. He must punish her, but he was going to take a merciful course to see if she could be prevented from falling into a life of crime, which she surely would if she were permitted to remain in the city. He should give her the shortest term of imprisonment that he could - fourteen days; this would be without hard labour, and the Governor of the Gaol informed him that she would not be put with the other prisoners. At the expiration of that sentence she would be sent to a Reformatory for four years. He hoped that would give her a chance of redeeming her character. - The girl left the dock sobbing bitterly.

CITY QUARTER SESSIONS.

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Another sad case they would have to investigate was against a girl named Ada Annie Sweetland, who seemed to be only 14 years of age. She was charged upon two occasions with having committed felony, and on a third occasion with having succeeded in obtaining money by false pretences, representing herself to be the daughter of "Squire" Sanders.

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IMPUDENT THEFTS.

Anna Ada Sweetland, aged 14, pleaded guilty to stealing a silver bracelet, the property of Mr. B. W. Nix, jeweller, High-street. - The girl went into several shops, and while the backs of the assistants were turned appropriated bracelets. - It was stated that there was insanity in the family. - Sent to prison for a fortnight and reformatory for four years.

This concluded the business of the Sessions.