The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-03
INSANITY HER DEFENSE
Got Into Trouble by Speculating in
Steel Stock.
RAISED A RAILROAD STOCK CERTIFICATE
Changed Canadian Pacific Certificate for Five
a. Shares to One for a Thousand Shares
and Then Put it Up to
Secure Loan.
(By the Associated Press.)


London, Sept. 2.-Marie Josephine East
wick, of Philadelphia, was arraigned in
the Guild Hall Police Court today, charged
with having forged a railway certificate
of the value of 100000 pounds sterling
Sensational evidence was presented.
The public prosecutor said the defend
ant had been residing in England for
eighteen months and was believed to be
an American of wealth. She had been liv-
ing with persons, said to be her father
and sister, at the Metropole, London, and
had been coaching through England and
living generally in the most expensive
manner Latterly she had removed to
hampstead for the benefit of her health
She obtained an introduction to Mr.. Bee
ton, a. member of the stock exchange. to
whom the defendant represented herself
to be the owner of securities worth
roughly 100000 pounds sterling. She said
she wanted to buy d thousand shares of
United States Steel Corporation as a
speculation This operation required L.
600 pounds sterling, which the defendant
said she did not have.
The defendant then bought five shares
of Canadian Pacific and sent her check
therefor. She wrote to Mr.. Beeton August
18th from Stratford- on Avon, saying she
expected a thousand Canadian Pacific
shares from New York, and wanted a
loan on them, as she was desirous of
buying more Steel. Mr.. Beeton replied
that he did not think there would be any
difficulty in raising loan on such Sc
curity. She received certificate for five
d. G. N.1
prosecutor said that by August 26th the
certificate had been altered the name of
the original holder had been erased and
the name of Marie Josephine Eastwick
had been substituted. The word five
in the number of shares and the numerals
had all been altered, so that it appeared
to be a certificate for Il thousand instead
of for five shares This was skilfully
done, three kinds of type and ink being
used. showing considerable prepare ton.
The only mistake was that the document
bore shilling revenue stamp instead Of
one for ten pounds sterling, which a cer-
tifcate for one thousand shares would
carry. The defendant sent the altered
document, with letter to Mr.. Beeton
asking him to buy a thousand United
States Steel shares in the firm name also
adding she was going in for motor cars
rather heavily, and was about to pur-
chase a stud farm.
Mr.. Beeton's clerk on receiving the
certificate noticed the stamp irregularity
and went to the Canadian Pacific Rail
reads office, where it was pronounced to
be forgery. Mr.. Beeton wired this in
formation to the defendant, asking for an
explanation. She replied: Call me on
the telephone" and then wired:
"Have sent no certificate Don't un-
derstand.
Mr.. Beeton notified the police of Lon
don and a detective arrested the defend
ant at the Palace Hotel, Buxton, Satur-
day.
The defendant was remanded until Sep
tCmber 9th. She will be afforded special
privileges on account of the poor state
of her health and will be examined by
doctors. Her counsel intimated that the
prisoner was suffering from temporary
insanity. Her father, who was present
said he could not explain matters at
present, but everything would come out
all right