Maria Osborn nee Cooke

[Chiddboy]

Hello
I am hoping someone can help with a brick wall I have come up against.
It concerns a Maria (Ann) Osborn nee Cook, the wife of John Osborn a coachman from the Headley/Grayshott area.
In the 1901 census Maria was a inmate in HMP Winchester, listed as a covert, and here lays my problem. I cannot find out why, what was her crime?
I have checked the Court Calendars for Winchester, with no luck, but of coarse she could have been tried anywhere in the area. Before I set out to try and find out, I thought maybe someone out there will have the answer. Fingers crossed.

[Milliepede]

listed as a covert, and here lays my problem. I cannot find out why, what was her crime?

I would say she was a spy 

Have you tried looking for newspaper reports? 

[Kay99]

Love the idea of a spy

Whatever covert meant as an occupation - it was something only women were listed as, with other women's former occupations being hawkers, lodging house keeper and prostitutes. 

Kay

[Kay99]

I think it is a reference to a married woman  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01eqm/  Edit - Not that it helps with her crime

Kay