The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-10
THE LIAR SHALL SUFFER
Aeonizing Scene in the London Court
When Ethel Osborne Was Sentenced.
All Spectators by Plea for Mercy Which,
No Doubt, Counted for the Prisoner.
MRS. OSBORNE CONVICTED.

Osborne. against whom the grand jury,
few days ago. returned a true bill for larce-
ny and perjury, was arTaigned for trial In
the Old Bailey to-day. She pleaded guilty
to the CHARGES against her and was GEN.
fenced TO nine months Imprisonment at
hard labor.
This ends. so far as the public is con-
oerned. a case that has excited world wide
comment A large crowd of fashionable
people, including many ladies. assembled
this morning. and, as soon rs the court
room was opened. there was q general
scramble for seats. The galleries were lit
orally filled with ladies. The greatest in.
terest was manifested in the fate of the
accused. At $50 o'clock Captain Osborne.
the devoted husband. entered the court
room alone. He was followed by the pris-
Oner's cOusinend accuser. Mrs. Hargreaves,
on the arm of her husband, Major Har-
greaves. who took seats at the solicitors
table. Mrs. Osborne had been brought
from the Holloway jail in n cab. being es-
corted by her husband. Upon their ar
rival at the Old Bailey Mrs. Osborne vas
placed in cell beneath the courtroom,
there to await the calling of her caes.
After Captain Osborne and the Har.
greaveses had entered the courtroom all
eyes were turned to the door by which Mrs.
Osborne was to enter. for 1t was known
that she would soon be brought in. In
few minutes the prisoner was escorted into
court by a female warden and at once
placed in the dock. Captain Osborne.
with heavy gloom depicted on his noble
features. took his seat beside the dock.
Mrs. Osborne paid no attention whatever
to her surroundings She kept her hand
kerchief to her eyes, and her grace
full and delicate form shook with sObs,
presenting a most pitiful spectacle. Then
hQ m n
called to stand up. The charges of theft
and perjury were read to her in solemn
form. When the reading was concluded
she bowed her snapely head and pleaded
guilty to both charges. She was very
weak. Her tremulous voice was so low that
1t was i'm posi- bic for her to be heard on the
bench. so that the warden was obliged to
repeat the ladys words.
PLEADING FOR MERCY.
There followed an oppressive silence for
few moments. and then Sir Charles Rus
sell, counsel for Mrs. Osborne, in o sub
dued and emotional voice, addressed the
court in mitigation of the sentence. He
suggested that there had been no motive
for the theft. which must have occurred
while Mrs. Osborne was labOrinR under
temporary alteration of the mind. The
prisoner had not realized all that must
follow when, induced by the enthusiasm
of her friends. she sought to yindlcat0 her
reputation. Sir Charles reminded his lord
ship that the false statements made by the
prisoner in the libel suit were retracted at
her instance. and that the jury was not
called upon to give a verdict on her evil
dence. Sir Charles then read the corre-
spondence that had passed between Capt.
Osborne and the treasury after the prison
cr's grandfather had paid the authorities
the $3.50 paid by the Spinks for tho Jewels
and all other costs. amounting to e1.2Oo
70 hchn rs.fn fn hn va,-h NJ
prosecutor in January" said Sig Charles
that his wife was most anxious to sur
render. but ne had absolutely forbidden
her to endanger the life of herself and her
unborn child by rendering herself liable
to pass in prison the time between Janu-
airy and June. in which latter month she
expects.to be confined. He was anxious
that his wife should have the best medical
care in the ordeal before her. Captain
Osborne IN his letter asked: AS all the
costs have been paid is it not possible,
under the circumstances, that her surren-
der be postponed until after she shall have
been confined. so that in the meantime she
would not be harrassed by constant fear
that would he terrible enough even for q
| healthy personf The treasury need not
fear any departure from this promise. If
my wife shouid live she shall surrender.
Is it asking too much for delay which
would not lie inconsistent with the dic-
tates of humanity
1.-The treasury refused to enter into an
8xTetment, anu OH Jan. captain ObOOTn6
wrote: My wife IS convinced that she
ought to surrender anyway"
After reclting how the arrest was finally
made as Captain Osborne had arranged.
Sir Charles Russell said he did not make
| the appeal for mercy because the prisoner
was lady. yet the anguish and humilia-
ton she must in the future feel on account
of the loss IN respect and the grievOus
| wrong abe had been guilty of would be
more punishment than any sentence the
cOurt cOuld imnOsP.
At this point Mrs Hargreaves rose from
her seat at the solicitors table. and. speak
ing with great emotion. said: "My Lord. as
and my husband are the chief suffer
ers-"
The judge interposed. saying: II don't
think l can listen to you"
HEART-BREAKING SCENE.
Mrs HarGreaves, however, was not daunt-
ed by this rebuff. She persisted in finish
ing what she had to say. and continuing,
she said: II am going TO plead for mercy
for the accused. | am perfectly convinced
| that Mrs. Osborne was not in her right
mind when she took the jewels. / beg of
| You to deal as leniently as possible with
her. / have known and loved the prisoner
all her life"
| During Mrs. Hargreayes's remarks Mrs
Osborne showed the deepest and most
touching emotion. Her tears flowed unre-
| STRANGELY and her sobs were audible in
| every part of the court room. until the
spectators. both TITLED ladies and aristo-
cratic gentlemen, turned from the scene
and wept. 1t was thought the woman
would faint and second female warden
| stepped quietly to her side To help support
| her should she fall. All in the court were
! suffering the pangs of sympathetic grief.
! Many of the women were sobbIng aloud.
and the scene was one almost too painful
TO be described. The agony of the scene
| was added to when the clerk of the court,
| turning 10 the prisoner. asked:
| Florence Ethel Osborne, have you any.
thing to say why the court should not pass
| judgment upon youF
Mrs. Osborne. choking with sobs, replied,
| boarsely, Nothing"
The judge then proceeded to formally
| sentence the prisoner. He recited ali tho
facts in the case and made no attempt TO
| gloss over any incident of her conduct.
The brutal words cut to the quick as he
| said: You stole those goods from your
| friends when visiting with them. You
| converted the jewels into money, which
| you appropriated to your own use. When
menced an action for libel. and sat by the
side of your counsel for days suggesting TO
them that your friends were culprits. Had
yOu succeeded by your wilful perjury, the
| Hargreayes wonld have left the court with
| nh lndelible stain on their name. The
| maximum punishment for yOur crime is
| seven years this remark caused q sensa-
| ton In the court-rOom. but am not gOln G
| tn pass such sentence on you. l am TAX
| ing all the circumstances of your case into
consideration, notably the appeal just
made for you by Mrs. Hargreaves. and
decide that you be imprisoned at such