Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-07

Details Of the Proceedings Hnd Mt the
CIcrLcnyycII Sessions.


LONDON Nov. 6.--The trial of MIR. and
Mrs Walter NJ Castle OF San Francisco,
charged with shoplifting took place in the
sessions house at Clerkenwel today, and re-
suited in Mr.. Castle being acquitted and
Mrs. Castle being sentenced to three months
Imprisonment without hard labor.
There was much interest taken in the
case, especially among the members of the
American colony and several women arrived
in court together at 9:i5 a. m. They in
cluded among the number the wife of Chair
man Mcconnell of the Clerkenwell sessions
and q Miss Chapman of Kentucky. II was
noticed that quite number Of Hebrews were
present. During the morning a goodly num-
bor of artists representing dinerent news
papers put in an appearance for the purpose
of making sketches of the Castles in their
strange surroundings.
With the view of possible challenges and
in order to expedite matters as much as pos
sible, three juries were summoned. by 1915
a. IN. many of the seats usually occupied by
justices were filed with well dressed women.
Mrs Castle when she came into the court
room with the prison attendants and profess
sional nurse who had her in charge, was
given a seat in the dock Soon afterward
Messrs Lewis and Williamson, solicitors for
the treasury arrived and a few minutes
later the magistrates filed in. Among the
late arrivals was Mr.. T.. p. Clarke, son OF
Sir Edward Clarke. Q. c., eX,solicitor gen
eral who had been engaged as additional
counsel in behalf of Mrs. Castle.
The jurors were of what is known here as
the middle class, mainly shopkeeners. AT 1880
a. m the case was opened with the names
of the Castles being called by the clerk OF
the court to surrender to their bail of $3.50 .
900. Then counsel for the defense took the
floor although Charles Matthews, senior
counsel for the prisoners, was not present
The deCorous quiet of the court room was
fFtal gFl.ln In
by Mrs Castle, whose husband supported
her in the dock. Both prisoners were attred
in black and seemed to be weighted down
with sorrow. Traces of deep suffering were
visible on their faces Mrs. Castle 5 especially
appeared to have aged considerable since her
arrest a month ago. When Mrs. Castle mad
become somewhat more composed the busi-
ness of the day was resumed. Mr.. Castle
stood up calmly as the clerk of the court
read the indictment and called upon the
male prisoner to plead
mot guilty" answered Mr.. Castle in a
strong voice as a flush passed across his
face, only to leave him paler than ever.
Mrs Castle was then called upon to plead,
but Mr. Clarke arose and said that his
client Mrs Castle, would plead guilty to all
the indictments, which were then read
separately, Mr.. Castle pleading at the same
time not guilty to each separate charge.
The scene was a distressing one The sobs
of Mrs. Castle were heartrending in spite of
the efforts made by her husband to sooth
her distress. She was heavily veiled and
rocked to and fro moaning and Historically
sobbng. She kept handkerchief up to her
face throughout concealing her features from
the inQuistive searching glances of the
newspaper artists and others present in court
to Illustrate or describe the proceedings.
After the wearisome work of reading the
Indictment had been completed Horace II.
Avery opened the case for the prosecution.
He said he appeared in behalf of the public
prosecutor. He said after careful consdera-
tion, unless his lordship expressed view to
the contrary, there appeared to be no evidence
against the male defendant, adding: II
shall proceed on that assumption and shall
not offer evidence against him. At the police
court we We're obliged to proceed against
both prisoners, but now, the wife pleading
guilty, permits a withdrawal Of the evidence
against her husband"
MR.. CASTLE SET FREE.
The judge thereupon replied: 81 have read
the depositiOns and can see nothing in them
inconsistent with the husbands innocence.
Therefore / am prepared 10 accept prosecut-
ing counsels view of the case" The judge
then directed the jury that they could not
convict a man against whom no evidence
was presented During theso formaities Mr..
Castle stood in the dock cool and impasslYe.
Sir Frank Lockwood. Q. c.. then arose aud
said: II appear with Mr. Gill and Mr..
Graham Campbell for Mr. Castle. Before
the prisoner is discharged | wish to say
word on the terrible position which nc Is in."
Sir Edward Clarke here suggested that
Mrs. Castle should be removed from tho
court room during the aounsel'S plea for her
husband. as her presence you'd only add 10
her distress. Accordingly Mrs. Castle was re-
moved sobbins piteoualy. Sir Frank Lock
wood then turned to Mr. Castle and said:
you may leave tho dock Mr.. Castle"
The prisoner, however, apparently did not
hear counsels renarii, FOR the latter had to
repeat 1t, saying: Come out OF there, Mr..
Castle"
1t was exactly 10:45 a. N. when Mr., Castle
stepped ont OF thc dock and was Informed
that II he 50 desired he couF go down and
see his wife. But Mr., Castle preferred to
take up a position beside counscfs bench,
whereupon Sir Frank Lockwood continued,
saying: II must touch Inon :hc position &C.
cupied by the wife"
Counsel described the European tour OF the
Castles from the time OF their leaving San
Francisco ana said hat The court room today
was crowded Hith men nf high commercial
positions who were ready 10 testify To ;be
Castles integrity.
Later Mr. Avery, sor The prosecution, ro-
counted the case as II presented Itself
against Mrs Castle, ana In 50 doing he
rchearsed the general gtatenent as II was
made at the Marlborough street police court.
| He descrhod the articles stolen and gave
the details OF the arrest not omitting what
Mrs. Castle said TO the oRcer who arrested
| her. MIR. Castle At this stage OF the pro-
|. coedinfS decended the little iron staircase
I to the cells in order 10 comfort bis wife At