The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-03-24
Be Sure Your Sins Will Find
Won Ont

Z, You Out.
One of the most sensa tional and at The
k same time regretful exposures that has
:, occurred in the criminal calendar, was
g brought to conclusion in the courts Of
g London, on the 9th instant. The central
i figure in it was a beautiful and accom>
e pllshed woman, who moved in the high
3 est circle of society, was the petted and
+ admired object of host of friends and
acquaintances, and had before her the
promise of much comfort and happiness
such as wealth aud station could give.
: Mrs. Florence Ethel Osborne, against
whom the Grand Jury, a few weeks ago,
!. returned a true bill for larceny and per-
jury, was arraigned for trial in the Old
Bailey, London, on the 9th. She pleads
ed guilty to the charge against her and
was sentenced to nine months imprisen.
ment at hard labor. Thus ends, so far
as the public is concerned, case that
has excited world wide attention, interS
est and comment.
Prior to. her marriage Mrs. Osborne,
then Miss Elliott, visited her intimate
friend Mrs. Hargreaves, at the latter's
residence in Torquay. While there
Mrs Hargreaves showed her friend a
quantity of valuable jewelry, and also
explained to her her custom of conceal
ing the jewelry in /, secret drawer of a
table or desk. Shortly after Miss Elliott
returned to London Mrs. Hargreaves
missed some of her jewelry, including
some very valuable pearls. For time
she was at a loss to know who had taken
the jewelry, but finally her suspicious
fell on Miss Elliott. Inquiries were
made, and finally it was ascertainel that
a lady had sold the. pearls to Sphinx &
Son, firm of jewelers. doing business in
Grace church street In the meantime
Miss Elliott had married Captain Os-
borne, an officer in the British army,
who, though he had heard of the charges
against Miss Elliott, did not believe
them. After the marriage Mrs. Osborne
was accused of the theft, but indignant
ly denied it, and finally instituted pro-
ceedings against Mrs. Hargraves charg>
ing her with libel. This suit came to
trial, and Mrs. Osborne by her testimony
created the impression that she was
greatly maligned woman.
CONSERVATION was caused among the
friends of Mrs. Osborne a few days later
when her counsel, Sir Charles Russell,
arose in court and in substance admitted
that his client was guilty of the theft.
Of coursethe libel suit fell to the ground
and shortly afterward a warrant was
issued for Mrs. Osborne's arrest. She,
however, had fled the country, and the
detectives were unable to locate her.
On February 4 she returned to England
and surrendered herself to the police,
and the next day was arraigned before
the Lord Mayor of London on the charge
of obtaining money by false pretences.
The Treasury did not prosecute this
case and Mrs. Osborne was discharged
She was at once rearrested on the charge
of perjury, and was remanded in the
Bow Street Police Court for trial
at the Old Bailey on charges of larceny
and perjury. "A large crowd of fashionas
BILE people, including many ladies, assem>
bled on the occasion, and as soon as
the courtroom was opened there was a
general scramble for seats The room
was filled to its utmost capacity and the
greatest interest was manifested as to
the fate of the accused. The galleries
were chiefly filed with ladies'
At $50 O'Clock Captain Osborne enter
ed the courtroom alone. He was follow
ed by Mrs. Hargreaves and her husband,
Major Hargreayes, who took seats at the
solicitors table. Mrs. Osborne had been
brought from the Holloway Jail in cab,
being escorted by her husband Upon
their arrival at the Old Bailey Mrs. Os-
borne was placed in a cell beneath the
courtroom there to await the calling of
her case by the court. After Captain
Osborne and the Hargreaveses had en-
tered the courtroom all eyes were turned
to the door by which Mrs. Osborne was
to enter, for it was known that she
would soon be brought in. In q few
minutes the prisoner was escorted into
court by female warder and at once
placed in the dock. Capt. Osborne took
his seat beside the dock Mrs Osborne
paid no attention whatever to her sur
roundings. She kept her handkerchief
to her eyes and wept bitterly. She was
called upon to stand up and the charges
of theft and perjury were read to her.
When the reading was concluded she
pleaded guilty to both charges. She
was very weak, and her voice was so
low that it was impossible for her to be
heard on the bench and the warder was
obliged to repeat Mrs. Osborne's words.
The court then imposed u sentence of
nine months imprisonment at hard
labor, adding, however, that the labor
would be such as the prison ,etor
should permit.