The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-10
MRS STEVENSS DiAM0NDS-EX.
IRA ORDINARY DETECTION OF
A CRIME.
[rron tno parIs ealIgnanI. January O.l

From the farlS uallBhhnli J"hu"iS VI
"A very extraordinary incident occur
red at the Court of Assizes of the Seine,
ON Monday. A woman Of about forty
named Laporte, was being tried on an ac'
cusation of stealing a quantity of jewel
ry, worth 250,00O francs from Mrs. Ste
vens, an American lady, who had been,
last year, temporarily residing in furnish
ed apartments in London. In May last
the prisoner, who has resided consid-
erable timein England, and speaks the
language, entered the service of the
prosecurix as lady's maid, and soon OBJ
tained the confidence of her mistress,
who intrusted her with her keys. On
the 28th of June, Mrs. Stevens and her
daughter were going out to dinner and
told the prisoner that she need notsit up
for them. In fact they returned home
late and went at once to bed. The next
morning the mistress was informed that
Laporte had gone out soon after herself
and had not returned. She fastened to
her Jewel box and found that the prin-
cipal part of her diamonds were gone
She at once gave information to the po-
lice, and reward Of 5000 francs was Of
fered for information, but none was OBJ
tained until in July the French police
arrested her in Paris, but could find no
trace of the missing valuables, and the
prisoner persistently asserted her inno-
cence. At the trial she maintained the
same attitute, and as no material proof
was forthcoming, she was apparently
about to be acquitted, when sudden
movement in the court excited the at
tention of the audience. M, Fournier
advocate, entered carrying lady's bon
net box and followed by two young
women. He addressed the Judge, and
recounted the following circumstance ::
"Mlle. Cazat, who is the goVerness of my
children, was sent this morning, by my
wife to Auteuill, to ask for the character
of a cook about to be engaged by us.
There she called on dressmaker named
Heineu, and, in the course Of converse
ton, spoke of the present trial, and men
toned the name of the prisoner, The
other exclaimed, 'Laportel why, knew
her; she left box with me some time
pose it should contain the jewels?' After a
ago, and have not seen her since. Sup
little consultation they decided on at
once taking cab and driving off to in.
form me of the circumstance. This they
did, and | now introduce them to the
Court The Judge ordered the box to be
opened, and one of the ushers of the
court having forced the lock, drew out
the jewel case with its contents com
plete. Naturally great commotion fol-
lowed. The prisoner cast one agitated
glance at the proof of her crime, but re-
mained otherwise immoyable. The Court
complimented the two women on the in
telligence and promptitude which they
had displayed, and told them they would
not 90 quite unrewarded, as they were
entitled, between them, to the 5000
francs offered for the discovery. The
case then proceeded and the jury found
the prisoner guilty, without any extenu-
ating circumstances. She was sentenced
to ten years imprisonment, and after
ward for a similar period to the surveil-
lance of the police"