Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-10
MRS. OSBORNEGUILTY
SENTENCED TO NINE MONTHS I'M
PHISONMeNT At HARD LABOR
A Noble Appeal I'm Her Behalf by the
Woman she wronged--AGsciing
scenes in Court

(By A,glo-Amertcan cable to the Dispafch-|
LONDON. March 9.-Mrs. Florence Ethel
Osborne, against whom the grand jury .
few days ago returned true bill tor lar.
ceny and perjury, was arraigned for trial
in the Old Bailey to-day. She pleaded
guilty to the charges against her. and was
sentenced to nine months imprisonment
ct hard labor, the labor to be such as the
PRISON doctor should permit. This ends
so far az the public Is concerned. a case
that has excited worldwide comment.
While Sir Charles Russell, counsel for
Mrs. Osborne, was addressing the court
in an appeal for mitigation of the SEN
tence. Mrs. Hargreayes rose from her seat
at the Solicitors table and. speaking with
great emotion. said: My Lord, as ana
my husband ore the chief sufferers ~
The Judge interposed. saying: don't
think can listen TO YOU"
AN APPEAL FOR MERCY.
Mrs. Hargreayes, however, was not
daGnted by this rebuff. She persisted In
finishing what she had 10 say, and. con-
tinuing, said: Il am going to plead FOR
mercy for the accused. l am perfectly
convinced that Mrs. Osborne was not IN
her right mind when che took the jewels.
| beg of you to deal as lenently as posi-
bic with ner. have known and loved tue
prisoner all her life"
During Mrs. Hargreave's remarks MIS-.
Osborne showed the deepest emotion. Sne
wept bitterly, and her sobs were audible
IN every part of the courtroom.
APAISFUL SCENE.
II was thought that she would faint, and
O second female warder stepped quickly
to her side to help support her should she
fall. Everybody in the court was much
affected. hany of the women were
cryin0, and the scene was most painful 10
everybody. Even the court attendants,
who have seen many persons IN the dock az
the Old Bailey, when sentence was passed
were visibly affected by the utter misery
of Mira. Osborne. which seemed TO be added
| TO by the noble appeal for mercy In her be-
half made by the woman she mad wronged.
The painful scene was added to when
! the Clerk of the court, turning to the pri-
soner, said: Florence Osborne, have you
ANYTHING to say why the Court should not
| pass judgment on you?" Mrs. Osborne.
sobbing violently, replied in a whisper !;
Nothing"
TIE SENTENCE.
The Judge then proceeded to sentence
| the prisoner. He recited all the facts IN
tue case ana Llhlc no utltDlt u EiONo oNti
any incident of her conduct. He said :
You stole these goods from your friends
when visiting them. You converted
| the Jewels into money, which you appro-
prlated for your own use. When you were
| suspected of the theft you commenced 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 wilfuI perjury, the
| Hargreaves would have left the court with
| an indelible stain upon them. The
maximum punishment for your crime Is
seven years (this remark caused sen.
satIon in the court-rooln), but am not
| going 70 pass such a sentence Oh you.
am taking all the circumstances OF your
case INTO consideration, notably the appeal
Just made for you by Mrs. Hargreayes
| and | decide that you be imprisoned al
such hard labor as your condition anc
frail health permits for nine months. III
| prison You will be attended by doctors"
Mrs. Osborne was seated in the docl
while the Judge was sentencing her. ant
upon the conclusion of his remarks sh'
would have fallen from her seat but TO,
the warders, who raised her gently, eaci
of them taking her by an arm, and led be
away TO a cell.