Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-03
THAT BROOCH CASE
A Trial That Is Interesting Lon
don Society.
THE ACCUSED WOMAN ON THE STAND

ILL ASOOS4ID W OiUhN OI LII dND
She Makes a Strong Case in Her Own Fa-
and Is Corroborated by Good Wit
nesses-The Accuser Begins Her story
An Awful Railway Accident Which
Demonstrates the Superiority of Amer
lean Coaches-Those of British Make
Smashed to Pieces - An Overworked
switchman.
LONDON, Nov. 3.-The trial of the suit
for damages for Islander, brought by Mrs.
Leader against Mrs. Smyth, has been be-
gun. Both ladies are wives of army Off
GERS The plaintiff had been accused of
stealing and pawning diamond brooch
belonging to the defendant and plaintiffs
husband Immediately brought suit for
Islander. The immediate cause of the suit
was letter from Mrs. Smyth, in
which she by implication charges that on
Sept. - Mrs. Leader stole the breach. At
. later stage of the case Mrs. Smyth al
tered the date of the alleged robbery, ap-
parently after finding that Mrs. Leader
had offered her brooch TO Mr.. Stokes the
day before the date she originally fixed.
The person to whom the alleged stolen
brooch was sold was jeweler named Dib-
din, and he was the first witness.
Strong Point for Mrs. Leader.
Mr.. Dibdin told at length about the visits
Of Mrs. Leader and Mrs. Smyth. When
the brooch was handed to Dibdin he said
that it appeared to be the one Mrs. Leader
had sold, but he often saw many Others like
It. On redirect examination Dibdin said he
had seen the police notice to pawnbrokers
In regard to Mrs. Smyth's brooch. This
notice had picture of the brooch printed
M Instice h.
picture and then said: This makes the
brooch lost have eight points to the star,
while the one Mrs. Smyth claimed in the
shop had six THAT is just the point
make" said Mrs. Leaders counsel
The Plaintiff the Stand.
Mrs Leader testified that she had known
Mrs. Smyth for eight years, and that Cap
tain Trench gave her a brooch while she
was in Cairo with her husband. This was
the one she sold to Mr.. Dibdin. She had
the case yet, and it was produced. This
was the substance of plaintiffs testimony
Sir Edward Clarke then began the cross
examination. For two hours she under
went the ordeal at the hands of one of the
most skillful cross-examiners in England
and she often scored the distinguished law
yer She produced litter in court when
In response to question as to whether
Mrs. Smyth had not on several occasions
loaned her the brooch which was the cause
of all the trouble. she replied: "She loaned
me paste necklace once, not a diamond
one
The Lieutenant Corroborates His Wife,
She named five persons who she said
knew that Captain Trench had presented
her with u brooch She asserted that she
was acquainted with Captain Trench pre-
vious to September, 1891, and she gave the
details of their meetings together and their
correspondence. Mrs. Leader also asserted
that Mrs Smvth had told ber that cba
had lost her brooch at Dover. Lieutenant
Leader, fine, soldierly-looking young Off
Ger, was next called as witness. He cor
roborated his wife to all points of her
testimony. He said that he had not thought
1t odd that she should receive present
from Captain Trench. Lieutenant Leader
stood cross-examination without finching,
and materially strengthened his wife's
case.
Looks Like q False Charge.
Herbert Robinson, a soldier, who had
been servant to Lieutenant Leader in
Egypt, testified that he had cleaned the
brooch in Egypt. Mrs Nellie Porteus,
wife of Captain Porteus, of the British
army, testified that Mrs. Leader lent her
the brooch soon after her return to Cairo.
The brooch lent to her was, witness said,
identical with the brooch produced in
court. She had also seen the brooch in
Mrs. Leaders, room. Miss Amy Scott said
that she had seen the brooch in Mrs. Lead
er's possession when she returned to Cairo
and Mrs. Leader told her it had been pre-
sented to her by Captain Trench.
Piling Up the Evidence.
Miss Maud Thompson, a sister of the
plaintiff, identified the brooch in court as
one which Mrs. Leader had shown her when
she returned to Egypt. Louisa Brun, a
servant, and Emily Page, servant, testi-
fed that they had seen the brooch in Mrs.
Leaders possession months before Mrs.
Smyth had lost the brooch. Solomon ia
cobs, jeweler, testified that he had made
the brooch from a design which was not
registered, and had made twelve similar
brooches. Henry Stokes, jeweler, corrob-
grated the statement of Mrs. Leader in re-
gard to her visit to his shop. This closed
the case for the plaintiff.
Testimony of Mrs. Smyth.
Mrs. Smyth then took the stand. She
testified that she bought the brooch in ques-
ton in 1887 and wore it on every possible
occasion. Mrs Header often stayed at the
home of the witness and saw the brooch
frequently. The witness never saw Mrs.
Leader wear any similar brooch. when
] saw the brooch in Dibdin's shop" said
Mrs Smyth, 81 was SO upset that cannot
remember now what said then. l may
have accused Mrs Leader of the theft.
do so now, anyhow"