The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-28 00:00:00

The following is the copy of a letter found in his
possession

No. 2.

To Madame Louise D'Aimanville.—Madame,—l am willing
to help your mistress in any way that is possible. and I will
send the Piatoiliee order to Temple-bar, as much money as
I can obtain. I cannot tell you my name, and I implore
you not to try and find out who lam I have assumed the
oame of Julia de Norman in writing this letter, and you
must write to nit hi that name, and address your letter
Post-othee, Scarborough, Yorkshire.' I implore you,
madame, to keep this letter unknown to any one.. I eill
Wlld some money next Saturday ill have it by that time. I
3MObliirell to send a hour way for It. lielieve me, Madame, that
I regret greatly not being able to send It at once lam
ibrond of the honour of helping Ones,, great and noble as the
Empress Eugenie, aud 1 trust to receive a letter front you,
Maoame, to tell me ill may send the money on Saturday
next. It is by a hazard that I know of your mistress's dis-
til as. I will keep it secret. 1 have hastened ti write, and
trust you may receive this safely. I remain, Madame, your
devoted servant and Mend, hat

Sulejoined hi a copy of the letter the prisoner wea
reading, and it contained a pO4-office order for lfis.
No. 3

Slountheld-court, Eolie.rtaVridge, Ilawkhurst, Oct. 1.
enelose a post. office order for lOs , as a small
proof of my sentiments with regard to the sad subject of your
letter. —I ours, Ms R 1 bißieroN. (This letter was addressed
to Madame Louise D'Almanville, 33, Lyutundroad, Saint
James-road. SE, London.)

In answer to the Magistrate witness said that since
the prisoner had been in emtody he had not been able
to find any woman, although he hadgiven the prisoner
an opportunity of assisting him.
The -Magistrate asked if Lady Mary Egerton was
in
_attendance.

Inspector 1 /ruses ich replied in the negative. He
had received a letter from her, and she was unable to
come to London. He believed no other money was
forwarded. The prisoner told him he had sent forty
letters, but they had traced only balf-a dozen. Witness
had ascertained that the prisoner was employed at
Messrs. Peter Lawson awl Co.'s, raamowstreet, as a
copying clerk, where also his father hail been many
years a confidential servant. The latter did not appear
to know anything if the affair.
The Magistrat% here asked the prisoner whether he
wished to ask the witness any iirestions.
He replied that it was all true what the officer had
stated. He did not know who the lady was who
entrusted him to copv the letters and post them, but
he did all she asked him.

Edmund Count M'Avilliere was then sworn, and
through Mr. Albert, the interpreter, SAW he was First
Equerry to the Emperor Napoleon. Neither the
Emperor, Empress, nor any of the suite, knew of such
let,eps being sent as those primused. There WAS no
such person as Machine Louise D'Amanville among
the suite, use bad any of them any knowledge of her or
the letter..

Inspector Drnscovich here said he had the landlady
of the house in attendance from which the prisoner
received the letters, if his worship would like to examine
her.

Mary Ann Arnold, on being sworn, said she lived at
33, Lynton-road, St. James road, Bermondsey. About
a fortnight last Ft iday, the prisoner came to her house
and asked her if she would receive a few letters fir a
lady going on the Contin.d. She I lit I not answer him
at once, when be said, "She has pird me handsomely
and would do the same to you." He paid her is. 61,
and 1.4 l her to take the letters in and she would he
[sad more She at last con.ented, believing everything
to be honest, and the prisoner told her he would call
for the letters every day. Witness took in three letters
altogether, which the prisoner carried away. (Inc of
Chic letters had a black bonier like that from Lady
Mary Egerton.

-
The Magistrate asked the prhoner what he had to
say in answer to the charge. It was one of a very
sethalo nature - forwarding myeals With intent to de-
fraud the British public.
The prisoner Said that what he hall told the officer
was true. He slid not loom why's, to find the lade.
Ile was in a very relpect:ll4e situation ansl would not
wilfully do a clioninal action. Ile called Nr. Mel halals I,
manager of Maws. Lau son and Co.'s, Cannon-street,
whs. said the prisoner had been three years in
their employ as office-boy, but owing to his good
essnsluet. Ise was enbsaged in copying. He WWI a very
honest lad, and had been entrusted with large stuns at
various times. In answer to the Magistrate i.e said the
nrisu oser was very clever at his pen. He did not know
he had any temptation to bring himself into such a dis-
graceful position.
The father of the accused was also canes', and said
Isis son was always a good and attentive hul, and he
knew nothing of his writing the letters or making any
arrangementS with any woman.
The Magistrate told the psisener that he was con-
vinced that he had not told the truth. It was pretty
clear that he knew all about this attempted fraud, or
he would not have opened the letters ; and there being
no proof sof any one else being concerned with him, he
sentenced him to three DIMAS' hard labour.