Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-10
MRS. CASTLE FREED
Released From Prison by Order Of
Home Secretary Ridley.
TO Be BROUGHT TO AMERICA At ONCE
Seemed to Be on the Verge of
Collapse.
MR.. BAY RD'S MESSAGE

LONDON. November 1O-Mrs. Walter NJ.
Castle of San Francisco, who was SEN
fenced at the ClerkenweIl sessions on Fri
day last to three months Imprisonment.
without hard labor, after having pleaded
guilty. by the advice of counsel. to the
charge of shoplifting, was released from
Wormwood Scrubbs prison today on medi-
cal grounds, by order of the home secre-
tary, Sir Matthew White Ridley.
The commissioners of prisons, it appears,
directed the medical board to inquire into
and report upon the health of Mrs. Castle.
whose condition was causing anxiety to the
prison authorities. She was watched day
and night by special attendants in the In
firmary, and was shown every attention
possible. The commissioners, after receiv-
ing the report of the medical board on the
state of Mrs. Castles health, commune
Gated with the home secretary, who
promptly ordered her release from prison.
and that she be placed in the care of her
husband, who has undertaken to take her
back to the United States with the least
possible delay.
Mr. Castle called at the home office at IL
O'Clock this morning, and was there in
formed that his wife would be released at
l O'Clock. Accompanied by nurse, he en-
tered carriage, and drove to Wormwood
Scrubs prison, where he arrived at 12:i5
pm. The jailers ushered him into a wait
ing room. and. after brief delay. Deputy
Northy granted the unusual permission for
the carriage to enter the gates and drive
to the door of the hospital of the prison.
There Mr.. Castle and the nurse alighted
and went to the door. few moments
later Mrs. Castle. dressed in deep black
was almost carried out of the hospital by
the female attendants. She was deathly
pale, her face was tear-stained, she ap-
peared to be on the verge of collapse. and
sank fainting into her husbands arms.
10 far1a anrlN-
sole her. The nurse enveloped Mrs. Cas-
ties face in heavy veil, wrapped her up
in a shawl and assisted her to the carriage,
where her head fell on her husband 5
shoulder and she sobbed Historically
As the carriage passed out of the prison
gates the driver applied his whip and drove
rapidly away.
While Mr.. Castle was in the waiting
room of the prison he was interviewed by
a representative of the Associated Press.
He said:
Il feel twenty years younger and as
though the nightmare of the past month
had vanished. My wife was informed last
night that 1 would come for her today.
She was utterly prostrated yesterday. L
shall Immediately retire to the country,
place my wife under doctors care and
endeavor to restore her health, in order to
permit of her speedy return to America.
Il desire especially to thank the Asso-
ciated Press for its kindness to me and
mine and for the manner in which it has
placed the matter before the American
newspapers"
Bernard Abrahams of counsel for the
Castles received the following note from
the home office last evening:
The prisoner, Ella Castle. will be re-
leased on account of her mental and physi-
cal condition and other circumstances.
"(SignedD DIGBY, Under Secretary
Ambassador Baynrd's Message.
Secretary Olney received a cable mes
sage this morning from Ambassador Bay
ard at London, saying:
Mrs. Castle released. Leave for Ameri
ca in her husbands custody"