Evening journal., 1892-03-10
ETHEL OSBORNE JAILED.
Sentenced to Nine Months in
Prison at Hard Labor.
EER MELTING Wall OF DESPAIR,

The Unfortunate Woman. Who Il In a
Delicate Condition. Fci In a Dead Faint /
When Sentenced aud Was Carried Out |
of Court by Her Weeping Husband.
LONDON, March lO-One Of the most |
! pathetic and touching scenes ever perhaps |
enacted within the famous Old Bailey was
witnessed today when Mrs. Florence Ethel
Osborne was sentenced in the central Grim
lnal court 10 nine months Imprisonment at
hard labor for perjury and larceny Of jewels
from her cousin, Mrs. Hargreaves. The CEN
trial is the most noted Of London criminal
courts Il is situated In the Old Bailey, nd
joining Newgate prison, and in this build
| ing some Of the most notorious British Grim
inals have been tried
In anticipation of the trial the court was
bcsieged before the doors were opened.
Tickets were issued by the sheriffs, buteven
this precaution did not prevent the building
being packed 20 excess. Outside the Old
Bailey, although II was showing thickly,
there were big crowds gathered in the hope
Of seeing Mrs. Osborne arrive. The curious
minded, however had little TO recompense
them. Mrs. Osborne was driven from Hol-
loway in an ordinary four wheeled cab, her
husband being with her and a female at
tendant while warden sat upon the box
with the driver.
Mrs. Osborne Pleaded Guilty.
The cab was driven into the yard OF The
central court, the folding gates being closed
} instantly. Mrs. Osborne was thus spared
the indignity Of going to the court, as Is
usual with prisoners in such circumstances,
I =. h. IA.
Maria. She alighted and was taken into
the prisoners waiting room, her husband,
I by special permission, being with her When
, her case was called she was conducted up
the steps to the dock, which stands about
six feet above the floor Of the room. She
fnltered for a moment as she entered, but
Immediately took a seat.
Mr.. Forrest Fulton appeared on behalf Of
a the prosecution and Sir Charles Russell for
= the defense Major and Mrs. Hargreaves
. We're directly under the jury box They
! seemed nervous and almost as much dis
y tressed as the prisoner herself Captain
Osborne sat in the well OF the court facing
the jury. Justice Smith presided, attended
Il by Lord Mayor Evans the sheriffs Of Lon
n don and several Of the aldermen.
Mrs Osborne was dressed in black. She
looked terribly wan and worn, and sobbed
in a condition Of semi-collapse. She glanced
y at her husband, who held up his hand
toward her in beseeching manner. Thl
J. indictment was read amid breathiess silence
re and Clerk Avory said; prisoner at the bar
rs do you plead guilty or not guiltyp
,e Mrs Osborne's voice was almost an maud
O. ible whisper as she answered, "Guilty"
s, BIrs. Hargroaves Begs for Mercy.
70 Mr. Forrest Fulton then addressed th
q court in behalf Of the government. Tn
charge Of larceny, he said, might wen hav
T, been left 70 private prosecution, but Il wa
m impossible 10 overlook perjury. With thes
P words he would leave the case in his lord
r. ships hands.
nr Sir Charles Russell followed in behalf O
er the prisoner. He said that those best az
nt quainted with the prisoner We're sure tina
n she had been suffering from temporary abei
ration Of mind. Since the truth came
NJ light the prisoner had done everything !
te her power to repair the mischief, and ha
'hi made voluntary surrender TO justice.
Captain Osborne, her husband, had writ
ten 10 the treasury asking that the prison
er's trial might be delayed until after tn
II prisoners confinement To this the trea,
iei ury had refused 70 conoede. He hoped tb
9, court would take into consideration tn
ms prisoners condition.
a MTs. Hargreaves here arose and said Il
h an agitated voice, MAY ] speakn
ce The Judge Only on the appeal for mercy
ly Mrs. Hargreaves proceeded between he
ed sobs: u appeal for mercy with all m,
th heart have known and loved Ethel al
be my life. and am convinced that she was no
at in her right mind" Then Mrs Hargreave
sat down, weeping almost hysterically.
Her Last wall Of Despair.
The Judge in passing sentence said; "Floi
ll ence Ethel Osborne, you have pleade
" guilty 70 larceny and perjury You stol
n your friends jewels while stopping at he
uu house and converted the proceeds Of tn
- theft to your own use. When the finger @
u suspicion pointed toward you as the THE
70 you commenced an action to vindicate you
i'e character.
'You were guilty Of swearing falsely an
corruptly in order to convince the jury tina
~ You were not the thief, and you sat stil ii
a. structing eminent counsel TO the effect tina
~ your friends were the thieves. IL woul
,,s have been impossible TO forecast the resul
= Of the action, but for the appearance Of a
! q unexpected witness, and possibly the Hai
/ greaves might have been forever staine
with ignominy."
His lordship then sentenced Mrs. Osborn
be to nine months hard labor, which was
"a. be such as the prison doctor would allow.
Il When sentence was pronounced Mrs. o
al bOrne's face became hvid; she totteres
~ moaned forth a wall Of despair such &
-, would have melted the heart Of a stonI
outstretched her hands and fell in a dea
faint TO the floor. The unfortunate woma
had TO be carried from the court room, hC
ma weeping and agonizing husband helping II
~ court attendants
on - ,,,-.