The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-11

London. Nov fa.--Mrs. waiter ~. Cas-
lie. of San Francisco. sentenced IT the
C,erkenweli s~ssions Friday last TO three
months Imprisonment without hard labor.
after having pleaded guilty BY advice OF
her counsel 20 q charge OF shopiifting. was
released from Wormwood 8crubbe prison
today on medical grounds, BY order OF tho
home secretary Sir Matthew White Rid
iey. The commissioner OF prisons. Il ap-
pears. was directed by the medical board
10 inquire into and report upon the health
of Mrs. Castle whose condition was csus-
ing anxiety TO the prison authorities She
was watched day and night by special at
tendAnfs of the snsirmary. and was shown
every attention possiole- The commits
sioner. after receiving the report of the
medical board on the state of Mrs Cas-
ties health. communicated with the nome
secretary. VINO promptly ordered that she
be released from prison and be placed In
the care Of her husband, who had under
taken TO return with her TO the United
States with the least possible delay.
Mr.. Castle called al the home ONCE at
II O'Clock, ana was informed that his wife
would be released at O'Clock Accompa-
MED by nurse. he entered q carriage and
drove to NORWOOD Scrubbs prison.
where he arrived at Las p. m The jaiier
ushersd him Into a waiting room. and
after brief delay Deputy Eorthy granted
20 enter the gates and drive TO the door of
the hospital prison. Mr.. Castle and the
nurse aiighted and went 20 the door. A
few moments later Mrs. Castle. dressed
In deep black. Was almost carried oat OF
the hospital by female attendants. She
appeared TO be on the verge OF collapse.
and sank fainting into her husbands
arms. He tenderiy embraced and tried 10
console her. The nurse enyeloped Mrs.
Castles face In a heavy veil. wrapped her
up In a shawl. and assisted her 10 the car
rage. where her head fell on her flIis-
bands shoulder and she sobbed hysteT-
.caiiy. As the carriage passed out of the
prison gates the driver applied the whip
and drove rapidly away
While Mr.. Castle was In the waiting
room Of the prison he was interviewed by
. representative OF the Associated Press
lie said:
II feel twenty years younger. and as
though the nightmare OF the past month
had vanished. My wife was informed last
night that l would come FOR her today.
She was utterly prostrated yesterday. l
shall immediately retire TO the country,
place my wife under doctors care. and
endsavor to restore her health in order to
permit her speedy return TO America
Il desire especially TO thank the Assoc
cIa,ed Press for its Kindness 10 me and
mine. for the manner In which II has
placed the matter before the American
newspapers
Truth scores Mrs. Castle.
Henry Labouchere. ia Truth, today de-
votes a page and half TO the Castles
| case during which he says:
| II learn that some OF the magistrates
favored heavier sentence. and few
We're for releasing the prisoner. Had she
been released on the sround OF mental in
for she would have been sent to a criminal
lunatic asylum, according to the law since
lssa. The sentence seems to me light. con-
sidering the circumstances. j do not be-
lieve In kleptomania. for II only seems. TO
attack the rich: and. n II really exists I
am sure the punishment OF every person
have very deterrent effect upon its
spreading. Mrs. Castle got of cheaply
when sentenced 10 Imprisonment for three
months without hard labor. The effect
on her health seems improbable, for /
gather she has been travelling In Europe
and except Tor the matter of stealing. her
health was the same as anybody's else
Probably the regret for what She has done.
and what has come 10 her for doing H.
VIII weigh on her spirits. bur this Is pre-
cissiy the state that Imprisonment is In
tended TO produce on prisoner and IL
this regret really causes her to be III abe
VIII ne transferred TO a hospital where
she will be cared for by all connected with
y. This Castle case is remarkable for
the many objects found In the Castles
trunks stolen In Vienna. How were the
CUSTOM houses passed on the Journey 10
Enxiandr One would have thought tho
officers would have been surprised 10 find
such a large number of opera glasses and
fans"
Continuing, Mr.. Iabouchcrc expresses
surprise NJ the fact that Mr.. Castle did
not notice the collection OF goods in their
rooms at the Hotel Cecil and adds:
The child seems generally TO have ac-
comranied tho mother when urged by her
pscu,iar disease TO go to a shop In order
10 piifer This child saw nothing"
MI. Laoouchere. after a sarcastic ref
srence 10 the defense and ac1uittaI OF
another wealthy woman for stealing hotel
eandlcstfcks. observed.
On the morning of Mrs. Castles sem
tenee seamStrcss and a goyerness were
sentenced AT the same session TO nine and
six months hard labor for stealing a fur
nee kiet. and neither had ever been preyi-
ousiy convicted. The governess tainted
~ TIE sentence. No medical experts tes-
titled that they were kleptomansacs: no
sminens counsel suggested that they
would suffer IN health ny confinement:
no ere pitted them. and no one signed a
petition 10 the home secretary To shorten
their sentences What matters how a
poor. faintins. frieniiess governess. or n
haif-stasxed seamStreSs suffers. Give
them hard labor. and plenty Of H. What
Let Mrs, Castle ouS Of prison. Sir Matthew
White Ridley she has moved In the best
circles. ard she has had no need TO steal.
but do aot reduce the sentences OF the
ScamstrcSs and goSerness by Il single
day. The best circles know them not
They are poor and helpless: which In the
ofinton 81 - prospecting persons Is
s4ss-.a