The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-26
THE STEVENS DIAMONDS.
A Dramatic Scene In the Court Of AssiEes
Of the seine.

frop, Garonanfs Messenger Jan IL
A very extraordinary incident occurred
ct the Court OF Ashes Of the Seine on MONDAY.
woman Of about forty, named Iaporte, was
being tried on an accusation OF stealing uuan-
tity OF jewery, worth 2OVu francs from nIs'
parnn stevens, an American lady, who hau been
last wear temporarily residing In furnished
apartments In LONDON. In May last the prison-
err who had resided considerable time In Eng
land, and speaks the language, entered the ser
vice of the prosecutrix % ladys maid. ana soon
obtained the confidence Of her mistress, who
intrmsted her with her KEYS. ON the 2sth Of
June Mrs Stevens and her daughter were going
on, to dinner and told the prisoner that she
need not sit up for them. In fact they return
ed home late and went mt once to bed. The
next morning the mistress was informed that
Laporte had gone out soon after herself ana had
not returned. She fastened To her jewel box
and found that the principal part of her dia-
monds were gone. she at once gave lnforma-
ton to the police. and reward OF 1000 francs
was offered for Information, but none was OBJ
tanned until, in July, the French police arrested
her In Paris, but could not find any trace OF tho
missing valuables, and the prisoner persistently
asserted her innocence.
At the trial she maintained the same attitude,
aud, as no material proof was forthcoming, she
was apparently about to be acquitted, when n
sudden movement In the court excited the at
entered, carving a l8dy's bonnet box, and fol-
lowed by two young women. lie addressed the
Judge and rccounted the following circuin-
st ince: "Mdlle Cazat, who Ia the governcss Of
my children, was sent this morning by my wife
to Autcuil, to AJAX for the character OF a COOK
about - be engaged hy us. There, she called on
a drossmnker named licinen, and, In the course
OF conversation. spoke OF the present trial and
mentioned the name of the prisoner. The 9TH
or exclaimed Laportel why, know her; she
lett box with me some time ago and have
not seen her since; suppose IL should contain
the jewels After a little consultation they de-
cidcd on at once taking cab and driving on to
inform 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 tho court having forced the
lock, drew out the jewel case with its contents
complete Naturally great cOmmOton follow
Cd The prisoner cast one aettated glance at
the proof of her crime. but remained otherwise
immuvabe. The court complimented the two
women ON the Intelligence and promptitude
winch they I'd displayed, and told them that
they would not 90 quite unrewarded. "a tn ~
were entitled between them to the 300 francs
cceded. and the jury found the prisoner guilty
without extenuating circumstances She was
sentenced to ten wears Imprisonment. aud al
forward for a similar period to the surveillance
OF the ponce.
P1ris Correspondence Of TIE london Telegram.
| A curious diamond theft case was tried before
| the Assize Court here Yesterday. A girl named
| Laporte was charged with having stolen mum
Der Of diamonds, Of the value OF $1,000 ster
| ling, from American lady named Mrs
| stevens, at whose house she was employed as
| governess. There was no popularity in tho
| case, and the evidence for the prosecution
| suddenly well known bafrster aud journalist
| NJ. Hippolyte Fourier, stepped forward ant
| asked leave to make statement. The Presi
| dent having given him permission to speak, b,
| astonished the court Inv Gaying: The stolei
| diamonds are In a cab down stairs" The Jewell
| were on examinatOn found to be really thos'
| that were missing. and the theft was distinctly
traced To the prisoner. IL appeared that TN
| discovery OF the missing casNst was made acct
| dentaliy 10y the governess Of NJ FOurner's FAM
~; and perhaps English renders will think tina
the manner in which IL was impaired to TIT
court was somewhat more dramatic than wa
| absolutely necessary.