The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-08
THE ARMSTRONG CASE.
The Jury Returns Verdict of Guilty Against
Stead and Mrs. Jarrett


LONDON. Nov THE trial of Mr.. Stead and
the other defendants in the Armstrong abduction
case was resumed to-day before Justice Lopes
The judge. in his charge to the jury urged that
they bring in verdict according to the law and
not to allow their personal sympathies to infu-
ence their decision. Mr.. Stead, Justice Lopes
said, filled the Pail Mall Gazette with filthy, dis
gushing articles of an obscene nature, the publ
cation of which was not connected with the
present charge. The only material question for
the jury to decide was whether the child, Eliza
Armstrong, was taken away from her home
against her fathers will. They were also to de-
termine whether the mother sold her child to
the prisoner, as alleged by the defendant
The jury retired at $40 P. NJ The foreman
asked the judge, before the jury left their seats.
to allow them TO distinguish between Mrs. Jar
rett and Mr.. Stead as to their criminal liability
in case the jury concluded that Mrs. Jarrett had
disobeyed the instructions of Mr.. Stead.
The jury returned to the courtroom at GAO
o'clock with their verdict They agreed that
Stead and Mrs. Jarrett took Eliza Armstrong
from her home against her fathers will, but
could not agree as to whether Mrs. Jarrett OBJ
tanned the child by false pretenses. They also
agreed that the mother did not sell her child, as
alleged by the defense, and that Mr.. Booth and
Mr.. Jacques were not parties to the abduction.
The Judge deferred passing sentence the
convicted prisoners until after the trial of the
indictment for indecent assault against Stead,
Jacques, Jarrett and Mouray.
The prisoners were all admitted to bail, to ap-
pear Tuesday next. The jury allowed that
Mr.. Stead had been misled, and they urged
that the laws for the protection of women ane
children should be enforced.
The friends of Mr.. Stead are very indignant
over the severity of Justice Lopess summing up
against the prisoners, and accuse the
Justice of having followed the bias of
the prosecution. Neutral opinion, however,
is to the effect that the Judges
charge was admirable in every respect, and
especially for it's absence of prejudice and clear
exposition of the points of the law involved.
The trial leaves Mr.. Stead in the position of
an mprudent enthusiast who will be consid
cred the dupe of Mrs. Jarrett and the man
Jacques. 1t was the latter who first induced
Mr.. Stead to go into the revelation business.
The social purity associations maintain their
full faith in Mr.. Stead, and are sure he did
nothing but his duty.
Bishop Southwell publishes letter in which
he says that Mr. Stead saw no other course to
cure the terrible evils revealed in
the Pail Mall Gazette than to make
the whole public aware of the enormity
of their existence. Mr.. Stead was in no way
sponsble; the Bishop contends. for the disclos-
ures of these horrors; the perpetrators of the
horrors were alone responsible, and but
for the work performed by editor
Stead the Bishop intimates that it
is doubtful if Parliament would ever
have amended the criminal law. The letter con-
cludes with the statement that it may be doubted
whether the motives which prompted the prose
cutions of Mr.. Stead for technical abduction
wero really, as claimed, honorable.