Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-04
THE DEFENSE CLOSED.
Testimony Against Mrs. Leader In the
Brooch Scandal Case-Alleged Discrep-
ahcies In Her Story.
PUCK.


ahcies in Her Story.
LONDON, November 3.-Increasing inter
est is manifested in the slander case OF
Mrs. Lieutenant Leader against Mrs. Ma
ior General Gibbons Smyth, and to-day the
court room was packed. The public gallery
was filled with ladies, az was also the
Judges private alcove. Lieut.. and Mrs
Leader were accompanied by troop OF
friends. The Leader party were early ar
, arrivals, but even at the time they arrived
seats could not be found for all the men,
bers OF the party. Lieut.. Leader and Gen.
Frazer were obliged to stand Mrs. Smyth,
her son and daughter entered the room ac-
companied by small following.
Mrs. Leader looked radiant, and was
dressed in fashionable attire. She was
recalled to the stand after the usual for
malities Of opening the Court were COM
piled with, and subjected briefly to an
other cross-eXaminatlon by Sir Edward
Clarke, who questioned her in regard to
the contents of Capt. French's letter that
accompanied his gift of the brooch which
Mrs Leader says she sold. He also drew
out the fact that Mrs. Leader received a
letter from Capt. French shortly before his
death.
Mai. Gen. Smvth was then called. He
testified that he believed the brooch pro-
duced in court was his wife's. She had
often worn it. Mrs. Smyth's daughter
gave similar testimony.
Mr.. Ashley, jeweler, identified the
brooch as one he had sold Mrs Smyth. He
had case for 1t, and he had seen this case
in March in possession of Mrs. Smyth.
Sir Edward Clark had explained that the
case had been lost in cab last Saturday
Continuing, Mr.. Ashley said that he had
sold only one brooch of that pattern early
| in the year. Mrs. Leaders solicitor had
shown him a sketch Of brooch, but it was
not sketch Of the brooch he had sold Mrs.
Smyth. Later Mrs. Leaders solicitor had
shown him fac simile of the brooch sold
| to Mrs Smyth The brooch produced in
court did not fit the case. Mrs. Leader
had certainly put the brooch in the case,
| but it did not tit so well as if the case had
| been made for it. There ought TO be three
private marks on the brooch, but it was
scratched up in such way that they could
not be seen. He had examined the brooch
| closely, but he could not find one of his
marks. He identified it by the pattern
| alone.
Mr.. Currie, a casemaker, testified that
the case in which Mrs. Leader said she
kept the brooch had never been made for
it. 1t did not fit. No jeweler put the brooch
in such case.
Mrs. Smyth's parlor maid and house
keeper both testified as to Mrs. Leaders,
visit to Mrs. Smyth in her bedroom at
noon on September 81.
Miss Ethel Wheeler, who had been in
| Carlo with Mrs. Leader, was then called.
| She said she did not remember seeing Mrs.
Leader wear such brooch. In November
Mrs. Smyth told her that Mrs. Leader
had stolen her brooch. Mrs. Leader pos
| sessed two or three diamond brooches while
| she was in Carlo. Miss Wheeler could not
! describe them.
! Sir Edward Clarke again called Mrs.
| Leader and pointed out 10 her the discrep-
ancy in her testimony when she said Capt
| French had sent her the brooch, saying he
had been on Black Montain expedition,
whereas, as matter of fact, he did not 60
on the expedition until March, 1891.
| This closed the case for the defense. and
Sir Edward Clarke began his argument in
behalf of Mrs. Smyth. Heurged that Mrs.
Smyth was entitled to verdict. He com
mented severely on Mrs. Leaders adms-
sions that she had written an unsigned let
ter from Mrs. Smyth's house TO Capt
| French, and asked the jury TO consider
whether her answers and demeanor sug-
gested that she was truthful woman. 1t
was remarkable, he said that she should
have stayed at Mrs. Smyth's house and
seen her brooch and had not mentioned the
fact that she had one just like it.
Sir Edward closed by arguing that Mrs
Leaders story was an accumulation of i'm
possibilities, and he urged the Jury to give
verdict upon the facts, without regard TO
sympathy.
Mr. Lockwood, in behalf Of Mrs. Leader,
delivered powerful argument He said :
what Sir Edward Clarke really asks is
that you should believe that the witnesses
for the plaintiff are all perjured. Is Lieut..
Leader man 10 commit or TO suborn per-
iuryl II Lieut.. Leader fabricated the
sketch of the brooch from the appearance
OF the brooch on photograph of Mrs
Smyth, then four people are guilty of con-
spiracy. Lieut. Leaders, sketch was fully
as good as the police sketch circulated
upon description given by Mrs. Smyth.
Would the jury convict the plaintiff upon
such evidence in criminal chargel The
evidence clearly indicates hat Capt
French admired the plaintiff, and what is
more likely than that he sent her present.
AT this point the Courn adjourned.