The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-02-04
Extraordinary Detection Of a Crime.

The following remarkable story of q
crime and its detection appears in the
Paris Galignani of January 9: A very
extraordinary incident occurred at the
Court of Assizes of the Seine on Monday.
A woman of about forty, named La
porte, was being tried on an accusation
of stealing u quantity of jewelry worth
100000 francs from Mrs. Stevens, an
American lady, who had last year been
temporarily residing in furnished apart
ments in London. In May last the pris-
oner, who resided "a considerable time
in England, and speaks the language,
entered the service of the prosecutrix
as lady's maid, and soon obtained the
confidence of her mistress, who intrust-
ed her with her keys. On the 2Sth of
June, Mrs Stevens and her daughter were
going out to dinner and told the pris-
oncr that she need not sit 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 Don after herself, and
had not returned. She fastened to her
jewel-box, and found that the principal
part of her diamonds were gone. She
mt once gave information to
the police, and n reward of 5000 francs
was offered for information, but none
was obtained until in July the French
police arrested her in Paris, but could
not find any trace of the missing valua-
bles, and the prisoner persistently as
serted her innocence. At the trial she
maintained the same attitude, and, as
no material proof was forthcoming, she
was apparently about TO be acquitted,
whea II sudden movement in the court
excited the attention of the audience.
NJ. Fourier, advocate, entered, carry
ing y lady's bonnet-boX and followed
by two young women. lie addressed
the Judge and rccounted the following
circumstance 'Mdlle. Cazat, who is the
govcrness of my children, was sent this
morning by my wife to Auteuil,, to ask
for the character Of Il cook about to be
engaged by US. There she called on a
dressmakcr named Heinen, and in the
course of conversation, spoke of the
present trial, and mentioned the name
of the prisoner. The other exclaimed,
~'Laporte! Why, | know her; she
left Il box with me some time
p.yn md hnt-n mot cnnn hn,.
since; suppose it should contain the
jewels After Il little consultation
they decided on at once taking a cab
and driving off to inform me of the cir
cumstance. 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, hay
ing forced the lock, drew out the jewel
case with its contents complete. Natu-
rally great commotion followed. The
prisoner cast one agitated glance at
the proof of her crime, but remained
immovable. The court complimented
the two women on the intelligence and
promptitude which they had displayed,
and told them that they would not go
quite unrewarded, as they were entitled
between them to the 5000 francs offer
ed forthe discovery. The case proceeded
and the jury found the prisoner guilty
without extenuating circumstances. She
was sentenced to ten years. imprison-
ment, and afterward fora similar peri
cd to the surveillance of the police.