In a poignant episode that recently unfolded in a London police court, the narrative of an Irish lady’s remarkable journey from affluence to the humble occupation of selling matches took a distressing turn. The Bristol magistrates found themselves immersed in a legal drama, presiding over cross-summonses for assault lodged by Mrs. Flora Bertha Barbara Baker and her husband, George Baker.

According to Mr Watson, Mrs. Baker’s solicitor, the couple entered matrimony in 1898 in Andover, with Mrs. Baker being an heiress endowed with an income of £600 per year from her substantial property. Their shared life took them to various locales, the last being Limerick. However, their fortunes took a downturn when, in September of the previous year, they relocated to England. Mr Baker, in his role as overseer, orchestrated the transfer of the valuable furniture and objets d’art inherited by his wife through a will, valued at several hundred pounds.

Tensions between the couple escalated, leading to Mr Baker ejecting his wife from their residence, severing ties with her entirely. Despite his departure from the marital home some months prior, Mrs. Baker, undeterred, managed to track him down in Bristol. In a daring move, she entered the house where he resided through the rear entrance. A confrontation ensued when Mr Baker, insisting it was his brother’s abode, forcibly expelled her after her stepdaughter identified her presence.

Subsequent to this incident, Mrs. Baker encountered her estranged husband on the street. In a desperate plea to alleviate her dire circumstances, she implored him for support to stave off starvation. His response was cold, asserting that she must lie in the bed she had made for herself. In a moment of tension, she laid claim to a watchguard he wore, alleging it was rightfully hers, sparking a struggle between them.

Mrs. Baker, now compelled to earn her livelihood, acquired a pedlar’s license and began selling matches on the streets of London. Her photograph, featured in “Lloyd’s News,” brought unexpected attention, resulting in thirty-eight marriage proposals in a single day, including one from a genuine earl. Notably, the King and Queen of Denmark expressed curiosity and visited her.

In the courtroom, Mr Baker countered his wife’s version of events, asserting that when she attempted to seize his watchguard, she wielded a hatpin with intent to harm. His inability to perceive the pin, he claimed, was due to turning away in response to her repeated threats to gouge his eyes out. In a decision that sought to find equilibrium, both parties were bound over, with the magistrates waiving costs in Mrs. Baker’s case, concluding this chapter in the unfolding tale of an heiress turned pedlar.

Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper – Sunday 23 June 1907