Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-14
CASTLES RELEASED ON BAIL
Sensational Charges Made Against Rich
Americans in London.
OPENLY ACCUSED OF BEING sHoPLIFTER'
Husbands Innocence Practically Adj
mittcd, and the Defense VIII Try
10 Prove the Wife's Mind Az
fected-sirs. Castle wecps.

Sng most interesting and extraordinary
case, the Marlborough street police court was
packed with spectators today long before
1t was time to call Mr.. and Mrs Walter NJ
Castle OF San Francisco, remanded on Tues
day last, charged with stealing quantity
Of furs, etc. from various dealers in this
city, to the bar.
James r. Roosevelt, secretary OF the
United States embassy, and Mr.. ii. Hodson,
one OF the under secretaries OF the embassy
were accommodated with seats on specially
reserved bench.
At II O'Clock Mr. Castle walked calmly
into the dock and a moment afterwards his
wife was led in by two policemen. She was
stylishly dressed in dark brown with blue
cloth cape the collar OF which was turned up
so as to partially hide her face. Mrs
Castle sobbed violently while in the dock
and held her handkerchief to her face.
when the first witness was called, Mrs.
Castle became hysterical and her condition
was such that the police fetched bench
upon which both she and her husband were
allowed to sit MIR. Castle put his arm
around his wife, doing his utmost to pacify
her
Mr.. Avery prosecuted for the treasury.
After detailing the circumstances concern
Ing the conduct of the prisoners, he said
that he was informed by the officials OF the
United States embassy that Mr. and Mrs.
Castle bore a high reputation in San Fran
cisco. 1t was not, he said case OF
wealthy persons buying goods that they did
not intend to pay for, but a regular case
of shoplifting. Counsel added that he would
not read the whole list of articles
which 1t was claimed were stolen. but he
begged to call the attention of the magis-
trate to the following: Eighteen tortoise
shell combs. seven hand mirrors two sable
boas, two muffs, two necktics, seven gold
aNg1t. fgH~ lNF Fu1al In
fans. sixteen brooches seven tortoise shell
eyeglasses. two plated toast racks, marked
"Hotel Cecil" and a large number OF
smaller articles OF less value, such as trink-
cts, etc
During the reading OF this list Mrs. Castle
appeared to he upon the point of losing
consciousness She frequently calculated,
"Oh dear, oh dear" and finally closed her
eyes and sank moaning feebly upon her
husbands shoulder
Part OF the property, the prosecutor fur
ther stated, was found among the husbands
clothing. He mentioned this, he said In
anticipation OF the plea that the female
prisoner alone was guilty; but from the cir
cumstancos brought out in evidence and
the fact that the prisoners occupied one
room at the hotel, 1t appeared to him that
the man must have known what was going
on.
Mr.. Harris OF Jers 6 Harris. furriers OF
Regent street, testified that Mr.. and Mrs.
Castle accompanied by their SON. aged 10
years, visited his store upon three occa-
sions Mrs. Castle. ne added. did most OF
the talking, and the party separated while
In the store, MIR. and Airs. Castle going to
different counters, the boy running out.
Alter the departure of the Castles some sable
boas and chinchilla skins were missed
L, COOK, manufacturing furTior of Port
land street, testified In substance: "The
female prisoner came to my shop October
3. She said she was sailing OH the follow
ing tuesday and asked me If could make
a sable cape In time for her to take II
with her. | called at the Hotel Cecil later,
as she said she had some sabcs for this
cane which | was to match. While at
the Hotel Cecil she left the room and / ex-
amined the packages OF furs she had. saw
some wen known marks and agreed to make
the cape Her husband came in at about
that time and gave his assent to the bar
gain
Detective Cunningham described the ar
rest of Mr.. Castle. who he said exclaimed:
Good Godl There is some mistake | will
pay anything rather than have this charge
pressed. know nothing about it."
Manager Field of Charles D. Roblg. fur
riers OF Argyll street was next examined
He told practically the same story as Mr.
Harris except that Mr.. Field swore under
cross-eNamination that the furs were In
such a position on the counters that Mrs.
Castle could not have taken them
Inspector Arrow Of the metropolitan police
described In detan the finding of the effects
alleged to have been stolen In six trunks and
I'm the wardrobe OF the Castles room at
tho Hotel Cecil. The plated toast racks, he
explained, were found at the bottom of the
trunks covered with clothing.
II. A. Margraf of Margraf Simms & Co.
furriers of Morgan street, gave testimony
similar TO that Of the other merchants eX-
amined
Prosecutor Avery asked that the prisoners
be remanded for week Charles Matthews
for the defense asked that the prisoners
be released on bail In the course OF his
remarks Mr.. Matthews said: I'VE can
clearly prove that Mr. Castle is entirely in
nocent aud that he is a man of the very
highest reputation. We do not contend that
his wife is innocent, But at the same time
we shall be able to prove by the testimony
OF physicians In court that she is suffering
from disorder which affects the mind"
Or. Scott, the physician in charge of IIol-
loway Jail, testified that Mrs. Castle was
suffering from intense nervousness and that
further confinement in prison would be ex-
tremoly dangerous to her.
Magistrate Shell asked: Are not people
charged with such crimes always nervous?"
Mr.. Scott repliod yes but not to such
an extent as this prisoner"
After some formalties the magistrate
granted the release of the prisoners on
100000 Gl500oO), accepting two sureties In
$4,000 and the prisoners own surety OF
10000 each. The following gentlemen were
accepted as sureties: Mr.. Seymour, man
aging director of the Anglo-California bank
tnuIIcs butIlle OF Guthfle & Co., bankers,
Idol Lane; Lewis Weill. Il watch manu-
faciurer of Hatton Garden, and Augustus
Cohen. diamond merchant of Holborn
Mrs. Castle was removed to the Jail room
soobing violently and doctor was called
In TO attend her
counsel for the Castles said to repre-
sentative or the Associated press at the con
cluslon OF the hearing that Mrs Castle was
completely Frustrated. On leaving the court
room she drove with her husband to some
friends In order to see her son. who Is he
Ing cared for by them. The meeting between
Mrs. Castle and her son is described as he
Ing most affecting, She is now under doc
tors care.
Continuing, the counsel said the English
lawyers do not believe II to be q ease of
fleptomanio," but. he added II am con-
WINGED the woman is not in her right mind \
Asked how he accounted for the fact that
MIR. Castle did not know his wife had stolen
goods In her possession the counsel said
many OF the articles In the police inventory
were legitimate purchases and II was proved
Mt. Castle was not aware the others were
In her possession.
The Daily Mail says over 10000 OOO I'm
security was ready in court TO be offered
MS bail for Mr.. and Mrs. Castle. Lord Roths-
Child offered ell the assistance In his power
End the managers o. seven leading London
Il 1T.