Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-03
MRS. SMYTH'S BROOCH
Gets Aristocratic Families by the
Ears in the Law Courts.
ITS OWNER STICKS TO HER STOR Y
And Positively Identifies Before the Jury
the Gew-Gaw as Hers
MRS. LIEUT.. LEADERS ACID THRUsTS

LONDON, Nov. 2-To-day Mrs. Leader
again took the stand and Sir Edward Clarke
resumed the cross-examination in her suit
for slander against the wife of Major Gen.
eral Smyth. Sir Edward piled his ques-
sions thick and fast. but mis- efforts to con-
fuse Mrs. Leader met with little success
In response to question as to whether
Mrs. Smyth had not on several occasions
loaned her the brooch which was the cause
o all the trouble, she replied: "She
loaned me paste necklace once, not dia-
,nond one" Sir Edward tried to show that
the ladies knew all about each others jew
elrv and asked q great number of questions
leading in this direction. Mrs. Leader re-
,lied that she knew nothing whatever
about Mrs Smyth's jewelry, adding: ut
is quite possible she knew all about mine,
SIS she seems to be singulsrly observant
Lieutenant Leader was the next witness.
His testimony throughout confirmed the
evidence given by his wife. Herbert Rob
Inson, who had been Mrs. Leaders servant
while she was in Egypt, gave important
evidence for his former mistress, among
other things confirming Mrs Leaders state
ment that she had the brooch in Egypt. He
testified that everv week while he was in
Mrs Leaders employ he had cleaned the
brooch in question. Mrs. Porter, wife of
Captain Porter, of the Indian service, testi-
fed that in June. 1891, Mrs. Leader had
loaned her a brooch similar to the one she
had sold at Dibdin's. Mrs Leaders maid
and several other witnesses testified that
h. IRIS
The brooch before the date on which Mrs.
Smyth saws she lost hers
The JeweIer in the Case Testifies.
Mir. Stokes, the jeweler to whom Mrs.
Leader had testified she offered to exchange
the brooch for some silverware, but who
did not offer what she considered fair
prica for it, next testified. He said Mrs.
Leader called at his place of business Sep
trmber 2l. 1891 (two DAYS before Mrs.
Leader called on Mrs. Smvth and spent
some time in the latter's bedroom, from
which the brooch was alleged to have been
stolen), and offered to sell him brooch.
lie offered to allow her ga for it, but she
did not think the amount sufficient, and
declined to make the exchange.
This concluded the evidence for Mrs.
Leader, and Sir Edward Clarke began his
speech Tor the defense Though in the
pleadings Mrs Smyth and General Smyth
mad declared that if the alleged slanderous
works were SPOKEN they were true in SUBJ
stance and fact, Sir Edward started in by
asking the jury TO acquit Mrs. Smyth OF
any wicked intention to harm Mrs. Leader.
When Mrs Smyth had made the remarks
forming the subject of the action, she be-
lieved that the brooch she saw exposed for
sale in Dibdin's jewelry shop was hers
Concerning That Man Trench.
Continuing, Sir Edward declared that
Mrs Leaders acquaintance with Captain
Trench was rather odd. Mrs. Smyth, he
said, had demonstrated with Mrs Leader for
asking Captain Trench to her house. Now
that Captain Trench was dead, Mrs. Leader
set up the story that the brooch was a gift
from him.
Upon the conclusion of Sir Edwards ad-
dress Mrs. Smyth was sworn. She testified
that she had been on the most friendly
terms with Mrs Leader, and knew what
jewelry she had She had demonstrated
with Mrs Leader abont the visits of Cap
tain Trench. Mrs Smith told in detail the
incidents of Mrs Leaders visit to her
room while she was dressing, the disappear
ance of the brooch, its discovery in the
jewelry shop and other circumstances con-
nected with the case.
While testifying Mrs Smyth asked to see
the brooch in question. 1t was shown her.
She examined it and exclaimed: 81 notice
that a point has been Strengthened"
In cross-examining Mrs. Smyth, Mr..
Lockwood, Mrs Leaders counsel, asked:
ado you mean that this brooch is different
from yours9" Mrs Smyth again examined
the brooch, and then saidi 'No, it is
mine
'But you were mistaken at frst?" inter-
rogsted Mr.. Lockwood
nofn {ho
Smyth admitted that Mrs Leaders second
1adys maid, who is now married and living
in Cairo, used to come to her house
Court adjourned for the day,