Pictures stated to move in charwoman’s presence.
Some amazing statements regarding Sarah Jane Ward, a Pudsey charwoman, were made at Leeds Assizes yesterday. Ward, who is only twenty-seven years of age, pleaded guilty to setting fire to the dwelling-house of Mr William Robinson, at Pudsey.
It was stated that Ward, who was employed at the house, one day started a fire in a drawer in one of the downstairs rooms, and soon after this had been put out another broke out in one of the bedrooms. Within a short period of time three or four fires broke out in various parts of the house, and the strange thing was that after starting each fire the prisoner was the first to call attention to it, and helped to extinguish the flames.
Police-Sergeant Mellor, of Pudsey, said the prisoner was a very hard-working woman, and, as her husband did not seem to like work, she had to work hard to keep the home going.
The neighbours, added the sergeant, were rather suspicious of the prisoner owing to strange things happening when she was about. Ornaments dropped from the mantelpiece, and pictures mysteriously changed position on the wall.
The Judge observed that the prisoner seemed to be a hard-working woman, and it seemed stupidity rather than criminal tendency that induced her to commit the offence. He ordered her to be bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months.
Leeds Mercury, 17th July 1914.
“Ghosts About”
Curious evidence was given at Leeds Assizes, when Sarah Jane Ward, twenty seven, pleaded guilty to arson. It was said that while Sarah Jane Ward was engaged in washing in a house a number of small fires broke out. One was in a drawer, one on a shelf, others elsewhere. As they were started one by one, Sarah Jane went to her mistress and said, “The place is on fire.” She would help to put one fire out, and would then go and start another.
Neighbours had told the police of “mysterious happenings” where Sarah Jane happened to be. Ornaments jumped from shelves; pictures changed their positions on the wall; and people began to say there were ghosts about.
Mr Justice Sankey remarked that it was more stupidity than crime which induced Ward to do what she had done. He bound her over under the Probation Act.
Diss Express, 24th July 1914.