Year: 1878




There is a now before the magistrate at the
among the most singular Of ceiebres pos
sessing does features of unique interest such
not even the Tichborne the Bagot cases could
show. 1t is getting to be common thing to find
titles in the police intelligence of the newspapers;
baronets placed i'll the dock for stealing the jewcy
OF harlots or for giving bad checks in payment for
champagne suppcrs. And now we have baronets
wife summoned to answer a charge which opens out
an extraordinary vista of romance and intrigue not
usual in these prosaic times and found only in the
latest novel lin three fits and gurgle


THE CHARGE.


Annie Louisa, Lady Gooch and Ann Walker ap-
peared yesterday afternoon at the Marlborough
Street Police Court in to a summons charging
them with having at the Grosvenor Hotel unlawfully
combined, conspired, confederated and agreed to-
gether to palm off Sir Francis Robert Sherlock
Lambert Gooch, of Benacre Hall. Wangford, Suffolk,
and No. AZ Charles street. Berkeley square, his own
child born of the said Lady Gooch, strange child,
with intent to dcfraud and deceive. Sir Francis
Gooch eighth baronet is the prosecutor in the case,
and was represented by Mr.. c. Lewis and the inter-
ests Of Lady Ellen Emily. the dowager Lady Goocn.
widow of the seventh baronet looked after by
MIR. Poland. The prisoner, wife Of the prosecutor.
was defended by Mr.. E. Clarke. AS usual in these





utmost capacity seats the bench beside the nagis
trate being provided for those whose social status
warranted the qualification of hearing to the best ad
vantage all the ins and outs of such


Lady Gooch entered the court and was allowed
seat at the solicitors table She beautifully aud
richly dressed. but her face hidden from sight by
an jmpenetrable black veil, which raised
for moment. Her figure and manner. however,
showed that she u young woman.


OPENING OF THE CASE.


The counsel for the prosecutor opened the case and
stated briefly and concisely against the prosecutor
wife, Addressing the magistrate, he said -I appear
on behalf of Sir Francis Gooch to lay before your
worship certain facts with view your arriving at
determination as to whether information which
has been laid before this Court is well founded not
The charge made against Lady Gooch is that of
spring with person named Walker to palm of upon
Sir Francis child not her own with view to disin
heritng his relatives Of the fortune to which they
would become entitled at his death, and to pass that
fortune to strange child instead of to the rghtful
heirs


Il need hardly say that Sir Francis Gooch has no
feeling whatever in this prosecution. and that if any
explanations can be given which consistent with
the innocence OF the defendants he will be very glad
that they should be placed before you and to hear
that Your Worship has arrived at the conclusion that
the need not go further. In that he will
know that he has done his duty his relatives and
to himself in having placed the facts before 1t





his own wife, but think shall be able to show that
Sir Francis had alternative but to bring the mat
ter before the Court Under the will Of his father
Sir Francis inherited estate of f25 900 the de-
cease of his elder brother. He had a younger
brother after whom the widow Of the elder brother
would succeed At the age of twenty lone Sir Francis
met his present wife. and shortly aterward married
her. You will find from the evidence that there
. design the part of Lady Gooch to prevent the
brother of Sir Francis or Lady Eleanor Gooch from
nheritng this property by means of the child which
she desired to palm off upon her husband After the
m - nf
Sir Francis from London. child was born, which
died seven months afterward


THE IMAGINARY HEIR.


'From that time up to the month of August 1877.
Lady Gooch never pretended that she was going to
have another child, but in that month she represent
ed to Sir Francis that she was encene and that she
expected TO be confined in the following May II ap
pears that in the interval they went to Brighton and
that Sir Francis having strong doubts TO her state
ments. insisted upon her being examined there. The
lady saw doctor and reported that his statement
that she had been in the family way for about
month. Still dissatisfied Sir Francis had his wife
examined by the family doctor (Dr. Lakng). who
said she not in the family way at all. Notwth-
standing this statement she insisted that she was and
seemed to get llrger and larger: but this will be
counted for by the fact that she was in the habit Of
padding herself with undergarments. She again rep
resented to Sir Francis that she in the family
way. and would be confined in September October,
Of "a lady who houscEeepcr and coupanion-Miss
Garrod-that he did not believe her, and that lie
thought she had some design scheme, which he
LETTING THE car OUT or THE BAG


But while making these statements to Sir Francis
Lady Gooch told her houseAeeper that she not in
the family way, but that she determined that the
estate should not pass to Lady Eleanor Gooch that
Sir Francis could not live long, that there already
two dowagers who lived out OF the estate; that there
would be nothing left for her in the event of Sir Fran
els dying without son. and that she was therefore
determined to have child under any circumstances
20 that In the event of the death of Sir Francis
Gooch she would not be left without proper
means. She made all sorts of offers to Miss
Garrod to aid her in the plot-she offered her her
jewelry if she would only stand by her. and said
ol.. N,r1A L.s
into her money; but Miss Garrod had always
been honorable woman, and nothing could inducs
her to play dishonorable part in this matter SO
far from doing so she earnestly entreated Lady
Gooch to abandon her scheme, and pointed out the
wickedness of the course she was pursuing. But
upon which she had entered Sir Francis at last told
her that unless she up her design he would not
live with her. few days before the time she alleged
she to be confined she mp to London. when
Sir Francis communicated with his mother and his
solicitor directing persons to keep watch. that c,
aence should be forthcoming ii she proved to be
enceintc ut the time telling Miss Garrod never
10 leave her You will find that from first 10 last she
kept Sir Francis informed of ali that took place.
Some observations no doubt will be made on Miss
Garrod who had difficult part to play. but who has
behaved most honorably throughout.


HOW An HEIR WAS


''rhey came TO London. where Lady Gooch was
watched. She went to institution In Great Coram
street. where she made inquiries OF Mrs. Palmer. tho
manager, for child and that lady directed her to
AIRS. Main, saying that lady bad Just been confined
OF beautiful boy who might suit her. This child
after SOME delay, she obtained from Mrs. Main Lady
Gooch then sent to Dr. Laking. aud asked him to
attend her In mock confinement. She told him that
she did not wish him to DO present and then she
explained the deception she proposed practise on
Sir Francis, telling Dr. Laking he fond OF her
that though he would not believe her statement in
The matter he would believe IL II it Endorsed by
DR. Laking. DIR. Iaking like an honorable man. refused
10 have anything to do with the proposal, and en-
treated her to give up her design, which must in
svitably be found out and lead to punishment and
imprisonment. In spite, however OF all these
ings she did carry out her design and through tho
defendant Walker, VINO has been guilty In minor
degree, she put IL into execution. Before leaving
home she had applied in the same way to u DIR.
Lowestoft. who was written to by Miss Garrod, and
who also refused likc honorable man, to have any
part In the design.


A SHAM CONFINEMENT.


"She then came up to London, took rooms at the
6rosvenor Hotel as Mrs. Gooch. aud on Monday. the
9sth, after being absent from Miss Garrod from six to
hafpast ten in the evening, she came to her suit OF
rooms aud taking large cloak went outside the ho
tel and wrapped IL around the nurse Walker and
child which she vao .arrv;,, aud hrn,oht than,