Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-23
A SET OF PEARLS.
An English Lady Robbed by a
Fair Guest.
STARTLING END OF A LIBEL SUIT.

The S>rosecutriN Proven Guilty OF the
Crime of Stealing from Her Hostess
Futile Effort of the Thief to Hide Hel
Shame-Det-cted Through Her Indorse-
ment OF Bank BilI>-Married While IN
der the Accusation She Betrays Her
Husbands Faith and Devotion.
LONDON, Dee. 23-The sensation of the
week in fashionable scandals has been the
suit for libel of Mrs. Captain Osborne
against the wife of Major Hargreaveg.
Over a year ago Mrs. Hargreaves had a
house party at her residence ut Torquay,
and among the guests was Mrs. Osborne.
During this time u valuable set of pearls
disappeared from Mrs. Hargreaves' dress-
ing-room, and that lady was, of course,
much distressed mt their loss. For some
reason Mrs Osborne was suspected of
stealing the Tearls and this got abroad, of
course soon coming TO the ears of the &C
cused lady. Hence the libel suit. Sir
Charles Russell was counsel for Mrs OS-
borne and Sir Edward Clarke for Mrs.
Hargreaves. and the trial has been in pro
gress for several DAYS,
A Sensation in Court.
Themany fashionable visitors to the court
room had settled down to the enjoyment of
the points brought out in evidence-one
intimation Of the prosecution being that
Mrs. HargreaveS had Stolen her own jew
els-when the case collapsed suddenly yes
terday by Sir Charles Russell withdraw
ing the suit. This was a thunderclap for
the audience, and the reason for this &C
ton constitutes one of the most interest
ing chapters OF British criminal history.
Society fairly quivered from the shock,
and may be said 10 be more than satisfied
at the sudden end of the case in view of it's
sensational denouement. The end was
brought about by letter from Benjamin
& Sons, tailors, Conduit street.
1t Worried Sir Charles.
This letter was handed TO Sir Charles
Russell by Justice Deuhlm Monday, and
1t was evident from the noted counsel's
manner that he was very much annoyed.
He Immediately asked for an adjournment
to yesterday, which was agreed to by Sir
Edward Clarke, and the audience went
home wondering what was up. When
court opened yesterday the curiosity was
great-and was soon gratified-to know
what was in that letter 1t should be
stated that on Feb. % last Spenk & Sons,
Bond street jewellers, purchased from a
mysterious lady a set of pearls Soon
after making the purchase the firm had
reason to believe that the jewels were
stolen property.
Were the Stolen Jewels.
Mrs. Hargreaves had advertised her lost
jewels Offering a reward for their recovery.
Spenk q Sons believing as they did, com
municated with Major Hargreaves, and it
was soon established that the jewels vera
the stolen ones. New for Benjamin q
Sons letter Briefly it said that on Feb. %
last, a lady asked member of the firm TO
change the sum of $3.50 in gold into an
equal sum in bank notes. The firm, not
having that amount OF money in their
safe, introduced the lady in question to the
National and Provincial banks branch
house in Picadilly. There she was accom-
mOdated with the ESQ in bank notes in
exchange for gold. This sam, was the
price paid for the stolen pearls by Spenk &
Sons