Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-07
MRS. CASTLE IS SENT TO JAIL
California Woman to Serve Three Months in
London for shoplifting.
HUSBAND UNCoNDITIoNALLY DISCHARGED
Magistrates In Passing Sentence on
the Afflicted wife Say They EN-
pcct the Sentence VIII lie
Reviewed Elsewhere.

Copyright. 1896. by Press Publishing Company
LONDON. Nov. G.--(New York World
Cablegram-special Telegram.)-The appar-
emily very harsh sentence passed upon Mrs.
Walter Castle today has undoubtedly shocked
ell London. She goes to prison under SEN
tence OF three months without hard labor, 1t
is true, but subject. unless pardoned mean
while, to prison discipline, prison food and
prison uniform, for that period, as we'll as
complete separation from her husband and
all friends.
The sentonce seems amazingly unjust, In
5iew Of the fact that some of the most repu-
Fable physicians, including doctor in the
employ of state, who saw her in Holloway
Jail for week or after her arrest, all
testified that the complaint from which she
undoubtedly had suffered since the birth Of
her child Is such as very often leads to IN
sane perversions Of women, to religious
mania 1t was cynically observed, as well
as perhaps, to heptomania, OF which she
was undoubtedly a sufferer. All the eN-
perts testified to this particular mental
pcrycrsion and she was undoubtedly ire
sponsibe for her admitted thefts.
The prosecution Introduced absolutely no
&C Trajectory evidence against these experts
L1ani as she pleaded guilty there was no need
Nof Wa uesses to le fact Of thefts. Under
such circumstances the natural expectation
was that she would be released forthwith and
the sentence was received with amazcment
In the court room and IL Is discussion every
where in London tonight.
on the other hand, however, it Is urged by
one of the medical experts, whose interviews
with your correspondent appear further
y along. that had she been acquitted on the
ground of insanity the only duty of the
judge would have been to send her to an
asylum as n criminal lunatic, from which II
4 nHf futT 10 a.
No doubt is expressed that Sir Matthew
White Ridley. home secretary, will shortly
release her from Wormwood Schrubbs on
account Of the condition OF her health. This
plea may be all very well. except that prob
ably not n soul In London believes but thai
had the guilty woman been of English family
and influence she would have been released
forthwith after the testimony.
oTISER WOMEN HAVE ESCAPED.
In fact, an exactly similar case was be
fore the London courts some two years
ago, in which the sister OF very Ql3lln
gushed Englishman OF title pleaded guilty
to stealing quantities OF articles from army
and navy stores, yet was practically Re
leased and sent home after her confession
Another somewhat similar but more serious
was that alluded to In these dis
patches a year or so ago. but Of which nl
mention has ever been made In an English
newspaper, in which the daughter 0f an
earl and the wife OF a baronet WAS c5n'
clusively proven by the police to have beer
guilty OF numerous slashngs OF women Ia
the Kensington district. II will be remem
bered that a yelled woman, dressed IN
black. prowled around the streets at night
attacking with a knife every woman she
met in lonely places. II is known 10 many
that the police traced the guilty deeds alb
solutoly home to her, but tnat no arrest
was made, the husband and father being
quietly notified to place her In some asylum
She is now in a foreign asylum She waG
insanely Jealous Of her husband. All thrs,
aafa 10 tV.NR
mately familiar with Scotland Yard.
II is dangerous thing for a newspaper Il
comment unfayorably upon the decision o
an English court. The terrors and penalties
OF contempt of court are their potent wca
pons upon such comment here but it Il
within the rights of newspapers to point out
Il as did in my cable a few days ago, that tn,
bail of 100000 demanded of Mr. and Mrs
Castle was preposterous, considering the
value OF the stolen articles, and that the in
generation Of Mr.. Castle ia view of his obvi
Gus innocence, was an outrage no one woult
have believed would be inflicted on an En-
glishman Of such social prominece and wealth
as the Americans
4 AS some comment may be excited at home
> because of the presence at the trial OF NJ
representative OF our embassy. except an at
tendant OF the embassy who is an English
man, | may explain that First Secretary
Roosevelt, who is always alive to the inter
ests OF Americans is very i'll at home ant
Ambassador Bayard has been almost contn
uousy absent for many months on yacht
ing trip and visits to various famous English
country houses.
FORMIDABLE ARRAY OF MAGISTRATES
The trial drew a crowded audience This
morning to the stuffy little court at Clerkcn
well, whore the London sessions are held
Chairman Mcconnell presided, having on hi;
left his deputy, Mr.. Lovel and while the
altogether eXceptionable number of abou
thirty unpaid magistrates filled the bench
which extends in a semi-circular gallery
around the court room, All magistrates o.
MiddleseX are entitled to sit at Clerkenwel
sessions, and in theory are supposed to par
ticipate In determining a decision, although
In practice, unless the chairman consults
them. as he did in this instance, they play
the part OF mere dummies. Sir Edward
Clarke and Sir Frank Lockwood. with theiI
Junior counsel, were in good time which
was not perhaps surprising, considering
that the two first named counsel had eact
retaining fee OF $3.50 for appearing fol
Mr. Castle and his wife
Among the general audience there were
several Americans, including Mr.. Hodson
messenger from the United States EN-
bassy; Major Egan, U. $. A.. and Colone
a. G. Iawcs Of New York, who both in
formed the World representative they at
tended TO testify to Mr. Castles high char
acter in san Francisco; Mr.. Charles Guthrie
OF tho banking firm of Chalmers & Guthrie
Idol Lane, London. and Louis Well, the
two sureties for Mr.. and Mrs. Castle tC
the extent OF 10000, were also present
Mr.. ana Mrs. Castle. having surrendered
according to The terms of their bail wer,
taken to the cells underneath the court
whence the pitiful sobs OF Mrs Castl,
could be heard echoing, while the court wai
waiting for half past 10, the hour ixet
for opening the proceedings. The two prls
oners were then placed in the dock Mrs
Castle being supported up stairs BY heI
husband, who lovingly kept his arms arounl
her while they stood to face the grave indct
ment against them.
Mrs, Castle was dressed In a tight-ftting
double-breastod. black jacket showing hel
slender graceful figure, a plain black ha
and black gloves, She was In a state OF
nbiect prostration, holding her Handkerchief
10 her eyes, her body shaking with con
- vulslye sobs. So much OF her face as wa,
visible was OF deadly pallor and when she
removed her handkerchief for an instant
her eyes We're seen to be blood-shot and
red with weeping.
Her husband, a handsome and essentially
prepossessing looking man OF mildly bear
ing and honest and open expression. was
flushed but firm, his concern being obviously
far more for his wife than for himself.
ADMITS CASTLES INNOCENCE
There was a buzz OF suppressed applause
when crown counsel opened the proceed
ings by declaring that no evidence was to be
offered against Mr.. Castle This was tn,