The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-07
Downright 1896 bv II. A. Pr

Clerkenwell to-day and resulted in Mr..
Castle being acquitted and Mrs. Castle be-
ing sentenced to three months imprison-
ment without hard labor. The decorous
quiet of the courtroom was broken by
the hysterical sobbing of Mrs. Castle
whose husband supported her in the
dock. Both prisoners were attired in
black and seemed weighed down with
sorrow
Horace Avory, in opening for the pros
ecution, said that Mrs. Castle pleaded
guilty to the evidence against her Mr.
Castle would he withdrawn with the
courts permission. This was given and
Mr. Avory recounted the case agninst
Mrs. Castle. He reheursed the general
statement as it was made at the AIarl-
borough street police court. He described
the articles stolen and gave the details of
the arrest.
Sir Edward Clarke, in speaking for
Mrs Castle, s;ld
'The facts which the prosecution has
recited suggests that there must he some
thing extraordinary to account for them.
In five or six days this lady, who had no
possible temptation, goes about London
and takes articles under 10 pressure of
need. When arrested she had plenty of
money. Mr.. Castle had started from
home with II credit OF $500 ga ,000,, of
which 600 were not exhausted, aud his
wife also hnd plenty of money!
Sir Edward then referred to testmo-
malls as to the high character of the Cas-
ties and how instantly the vast amount
of bail esl50,000) was furnished, arguing
that Il man or woman in such c;rcum-
stances did not need more money and did
not need to steal i'll order to get It.
Dr. William Chapman Griag, DIR.
George Henry Savage, DR.. Leonard
Gabriel and DIR. Scott, medical director
of Holloway Jail, gave testimony ind;cat-
ing that Mrs. Castle was unaccountablc
for her actions on account of diseased
mental condition.
Sir Edward Clarke then drew the atten-
ton ef the court to the pitiable condition
of the woman and suggested that her
friends, who were in court, were deeply
concerned and greatly DESTROYS of .remov-
ing her to Bome asylum where her mental
health could he guarded. The intlge re-
Piled
Questions of this kind Sir Edward,
must be considered elsewhere
At 1lA5 the magistrates. who num-.
bered twenty five, besides the presiding
judge and COL Rotton, Gen. Birch, Mr..
Davis, Sir John Micks and the deputy
judge, Mr.. Loveland retired.
At j2:01 O'Clock the magistrates re-
turned ana silence once more fell upon
the court Mrs. Castle, sobbing vic.
lently, staggered to the front of the dock
and touched the rail, while the clerk of
the court read the Indictment to which
she had pleaded guilty. The unfortunate
woman then sank exhausted upon the
chair placed in the dock for her accom-
mediation.
The Judge then summed up. He said
the court had great trouble in denlino
with this difficult case, rs sympathy was
almost interfering with justice, and
knowing that whatever sentence he
might pass would be carefully reviewed
elsewhere, so that any danger to the pris-
oner's mental health should be carefully
guarded against.
The Judge then passed sentence of three
months imprisonment, without hard
labor, upon Mrs. Castle He said that he
did so with the knowledge that the SEN
tence would be revised elsewhere, and the
general impression which afterwards
prevailed in the court was that the home
Office will shortly release Mrs. Castle
upon her own recognizance.
The unfortunate woman upon hearing
the sentence went into Mysteries, shrek.
ing: "Oh, my. Godn "Oh, my God!'
tor nearly five minutes. She threw up
her hands and staggered about, mutter-
ing at times inooherently and then
shrleking in wild agony
Mr. Castles face turned an ashcn gray
rs he witnessed his wife, agony Mrs.
Castle then Gained down and was able to
enter II cab, accompanied by her husband
and the chief jailor, and they started for
Wormwood Scrubs prison.
In the courtroom, after Mrs. Castle
iiild been removed, there was quite com
sci Of II
dissatisfaction with the verdict
I,r. Scott said that he was surprised at
the result in view of the evidence, init
matfng that he expected much lighter
sentence.
During the trial copy of the San
Francisco Wasp, containing an article re-
Wiling the Castles, Was handed by Sir
Edward Clarke to Sir Frank Lockwood.
with the remark: ''This was sent TO Mr..
Mergraf by n friend who said: Il am n
hard-headed Scotchman and believe that
Il thief is a thief, no matter how
wealthy -
Mr. Hodson, CT the United States en-
bassy, on leaving. the sessions remarked;
eve shall get her out within week
The Westdn mister Gazette this after.
noon says that the expenses of the Cas-
ties in providing for the defense will
amount to 100000 $50, 1000.
mon arriving at Norwood Scrubs
prison Mrs. Castle was taken to the in
Urinary. After description of her had
been entered upon the books, according to
the regular routine, she will be clad in
prison dress. Her sentence being for
three months only, she will not be Obliged
to submit to having her hair cropped.
The officials OF the home Office this