Walter Purkiss is robbed

A BRAVE WOMAN. - George Harris, 25, was charged with a burglary and stealing some articles of clothing, the property of Walter Purkiss. Mr. Beaumont Morise prosecuted. The prosecutor resides in Buck's-row, Whitechapel, and on the night of 13th of February the prisoner made an entry into the house and packed up several articles of clothing. He was about to make off with his booty when a woman named Cottis, who lived near the prosecutor, seized him, and held him until a constable came up and took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner was convicted, and it appeared that he had only just been liberated from a sentence of penal servitude. The jury expressed their opinion that the witness Cottis had behaved very well by bringing such a prisoner to justice. The Common Serjeant sentenced him to eight years' penal servitude, and at the same time said he thought the witness Cottis had shown a great deal of courage in the affair, and he ordered her to be paid a reward of 3 pounds.

Source: Reynolds's Newspaper, Sunday 7 March, 1880