The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-14 00:00:00

A STRANGE STORY,--.Mary Clarke, a fashionably-dressed
woman, was placed at the bar, charged with stealing three
half-crowns from Mr A. F. Belt.
The prosecutor said he resided at 1, St John's• street,
Westminster, and on the evening of the 6th ho was return-
ing from a party when he met the prisoner in Waterloo-
place. She gave him a sort of friendly blow, and
said, " I know you somewhere," He denied all know-
ledge of her, and she walked by his side from the
place where she first spoke to him until ho arrived at the
Athenaram Club, where ho found he had been robbed of
three half-crowns. He accused the woman of having stolen
the money, but she denied it, and said she was a respectable
married wom in. While she was walking with him, a man
and woman passed close to them, and he suspected she
passed the money to them, as it had not been re-
covered, and he was certain she did not drop
it while she was being taken to the station house. When
he first gave the woman into custody, he said he had been
robbed of three half-sovereigns, but that was a mistake.
Mr Lewis, who appeared for the prisoner, said the pri-
soner was a respectable married woman, and that there
must be some mistake in the matter. Her husband he
believed was a very respectable person, and he was quite
unacquainted with the matter until he learned that his wife
was in custody on the charge. He should like to ask the
prosecutor a few questions.
The prosecutor, in reply, said he was quite certain he
had the money in his pocket when the prisoner first spoke
to him. Ho was perfectly sober. The prisoner walked on
his right hand aide, and the money was abstracted from his
waistcoat pocket. The reason he made the mistake in saying
three half sovs, instead of three half-crowns was because
he was very much flurried. lie was certain he had the
money when the prisoner first spoke to him, and
immediately she walked away he found he had been robbed.
Police-constable 308 A. sail he took the prisoner into cus-
tody. She was searched at the station, but the money was
not found.

In reply to Mr Vaughan,
Mr Lewis said the prisoner would reserve her defence.
He hoped she would be admitted to bail.
Mr Vaughan said he did not feel juatified in taking bail.
The prisoner they began to cry, and asked the magistrate
to deal summarily with the case.
Mr Vaughan said he could not do that, because she
denied the charge.

Prisoner—Then I plead guilty.
Mr Vaughan—What do you say to that, Mr Lewis.
Mr Lewis—l was instructed she was a respectable mar-
ried woman, and after what she has stated I think I had
better say nothing.
Mr Vaughan—You said something about her husband
being a respectable man. I should like to ask him a few
questions.
Clarke, the husband, then stepped into the witness-box.
Mr Vaughan—Are you married to this woman P—Yes.
Where do you live P—No. 1, Anchor-street, Church-
street, Shoreditch, and have done so for the last 12 months.
I only occupy lodgings in the house.
Wb a t are you f—A commission agent.

For whom Delapierre, No. 1, Rue St. Honore,
Paris, bullion dealer. I conduct his business for him at the
London and Wes minster Bank.

Has he offices in London ?—No, he communicates by

letter.

Do you mean to say that a bullion deal.or residing in
Paris communicates to you by letter at the address you
have given iu Shoreditch ?—Yes.
Mr Vaughan—lt is a very strange case, however. I
shall commit the prisoner to the House of Correction for
three months.