Mexborough and Swinton Times July 12, 1919

” Planet Worker’s ” Fate.
Six Months’ Hard Labour.
Wombwell Housekeeper Duped.

The Gipsy hawker, Allier Ada Winter, was again brought before the Barnsley West Riding justices on Friday, on a charge of stealing money by trick. As reported in our columns last week, the magistrates at a previous hearing had failed to agree, and the case was accordingly re-heard.

Prisoner was charged with stealing by a trick £20 from Amelia Jones, and £1 3s. from Emmie Marsh, while on Friday there was a third charge of stealing by similar means £20 from Alice M. Potter.

Supt. Mc-Dowald said that by telling the three prosecutors, that she could “work a planet” and bring them news of relatives, prisoner induced the women to give her the sums mentioned.

Mrs. Jones had lost her husband in the war, but prisoner told her that her husband was living, and was in a big building across the sea. Prisoner said, “If you can give me £20 I can work the planet. I have to work it with borrowed money.” She promised to return the money, and Mrs. Jones handed her twenty £1 notes. The facts were similar in all three cases.

In the third and new charge Mrs. Alice Margaret. Potter, wife of George Potter, of 17, Darfield Main, Wombwell, said that about 2 o’clock on Wednesday, June 18th, prisoner , called at her home. Cecil Potter, her brother-in-law, was in the room at the time, and opened the door. Prisoner walked in and sat on a chair. She hid a basket containing lace, and asked witness if she wanted to buy any. She said she did not want any lace, and prisoner then asked her if she would like to “try her luck with the gipsy.”

Prisoner said “I can see you are in very great trouble, and have been for some time, about a soldier.” Witness said she had been troubled about her brother who had been killed in the war. Prisoner then said, “You need not worry. He is quite all right., and is in a big building in a big city.” After further conversation prisoner added, “God has sent me to your door to bring you good luck.” The prisoner told her she could “work the planet,” but would want £20, which must be borrowed money. Witness told her she had not got £20, and prisoner then said, “You have. If I know one thing I know another.”

She gave witness’s brother-in-law a piece of brown paper with some salt in, and sent him into the kitchen to burn it, and all his sorrows would burn away. He left the room. Prisoner promised her faithfully to bring the £20 back on Friday morning (two days later). Witness fetched the money from a box upstairs, tied it up in a handkerchief and handed it to prisoner, who told her not to worry over the money, nor mention it to her husband or brother-in-law, or she would not be able to work the planet, adding, “You must trust me as a sister. I will honestly bring it back on Friday at 10 o’clock.

The next that witness heard of prisoner was when she saw from the papers that she was in custody.

Cecil Potter (23), colliery labourer, said he heard prisoner tell his sister-in-law that she could work the planet for £20. She gave him some salt in brown paper and told him to burn his sorrows on the fire. He stood and watched it burn, but did not know his sister-in-law had given prisoner £20.

Mr. Scorah (Sheffield) contended that it was lent money, and consequently, as prisoner had not -taken the money away without the consent of the owner, she could not be guilty of larceny. If there was a conviction this was a matter on which he must reserve the right to appeal.

The Chairman said the Bench were of opinion that prisoner had received this money with the intention of stealing it, and that therefore there was evidence of larceny. She would he committed to prison for six months on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

Prisoner collapsed on leaving the dock.