CAUTION.
Whereas Elizabeth Woods, daughter of John Woods, of Gaywood, in the County of Norfolk, Gardener, did lately commit many fraudulent and dishonest actions in the dwelling-house of Mr. John Relf, of No. 160, Drury-lane, London, for which he, the said John Relf, did not (in consideration of her youth, and his respect for her family) proceed against her at law, And whereas the said Elizabeth Woods did, on Sunday, the 14th of this instant, August, at a place of public worship, within the borough of King's Lynn, grossly insult the said John Relf. Now this is to caution the said Elizabeth Woods against repeating her insults to the said John Relf, or any of his family, as on a repetition thereof, he is determined to prosecute her to the utmost rigour of the law. JOHN RELF, 160, Drury-lane.
16th August, 1825.
John Woods, the father of the plaintiff, proved that his daughter is cousin to Mrs. Relf. She was invited to her house, and remained there about seven months. After she returned the hand-bills were put up about Lynn. Miss Robinson, a milliner, proved that she refused to accept Miss Woods as an apprentice, in consequence of the hand-bill. John Farmer proved that he broke off acquaintance with Miss Woods in consequence of the libel. On the part of the defendant, Sarah Smith, his servant, was examined. She stated, that in consequence of Elizabeth Woods having confessed that she was the cause of one of the defendant's children taking cold, which had died a short time before*, Mrs. Relf ordered her to quit the house, and never come near her again. On the day that the child was buried, Elizabeth Woods took some muslin out of Mrs. Relf's drawer, and packed it up in her box with her clothes. When Mrs. Relf came down in the morning, she complained that her drawer had been forced open, and that the muslin and some money had been stolen. On the Monday se'nnight after the funeral, when Miss Woods was in the parlour, Mrs. Relf called witness in and said, "There are several very unpleasant things between you and Sarah, and I should wish to have them cleared up." Mrs. Relf then alluded to the things that she had lost, and asked her if she had broken open the drawer? Miss Woods held down her head and said nothing. An officer was sent for, and then Miss Woods said, "I own if you proceed against me you would transport me." Mrs. Relf, however, allowed her to go away. On the Monday following the funeral, witness saw three separate parcels of silver in a box of Miss Woods, and she said she had plenty of money, although no friends. In answer to this statement, it was proved that the father of Miss Woods supplied her with abundance of money during the time she was at Mrs. Relf's house; that the muslin and other articles which it was alleged Miss Woods had stolen were of the most trifling nature, and that when Miss W. discovered she had them in her box, she caused them to be returned to Mrs. Relf. The jury consulted for about a quarter of an hour, and returned the following singular verdict:—"We find the plaintiff Not Guilty, and and we find the damages for her one hundred and fifty pounds."
Baldwin's London Weekly Journal, 7 April 1827, p. 2
* This was daughter Louisa who was born in 1824 and died in the following year.
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CHARGES
BOW STREET OFFICE
JANUARY 13.
GEORGE GARDNER, with embezzling the sum of five pounds, four shillings, and fourpence halfpenny, the monies of his master and employer, John Smith Relf, of Drury-lane, baker.—Committed to Newgate for trial.
Police Gazette, 16 January 1829, p. 4
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In 1830 John Relf was living at 160 Drury Lane, London. 4
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John Smith Relf of Drury Lane died aged 39 years (burial record).
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