THE GREAT PEARL CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1892, Page 3

THE GREAT PEARL CASE.

Everyone at Home ia balking aboub bhe great pearl case, which was an action for slander against Mrs Hargreave for insinuating thab bhe plaintiff stole a seb of pourls belonging bo Mrs Hargreave. The plaintiff, ab the time this action for slander arose, was Miss Ethel Elliot, sister of Mr Hugh Elliot, a well-known barrister. It was mentioned more than once by the plaintiff in the course of the case that Sir Honry James was hor godfather, the obvious suggestion being that a lady so woll connected could not be guilty of the vulgar felony alleged. Mrs Hargreave is tho plaintiff's second cousin, and on February 9th plaintiff visited the Hargreaves at Torquay, remaining till the ISth. Mrs Hargreave had a seb of valuable pearls, which sho kept in a socret drawer. Tho lasb occasion on which Major Hargreave saw the pearls was on the third of February, and he left for Aix-la-Chapello on the 4th. The last time Mrs Hargreave saw thorn was on tho 4th—the day Major Hargreave lefb for Aix-la-Chapelle, and this coincidence uufortunatoly suggested a somowhab severe lino of cross-examination in regard to the lust-named witness. Plaintiff's evidence, summarised, was that Mrs Hargreave,on the 10th of February, opened an old drawer or escritoire, and also opened a secret drawer, remarking, "Thab in THE PLACE WHERE I KEEP MY DIAMONDS," and having shown plaintiff' a brooch, she closed the drawer, with the further remark, "My things aro quite safe. Thero are only five people who know ol this drawer — myself, yourself, my husband, Mr Englehardt, and bhe cabinet-maker." The missing pearls, according to plaintiff's statement, wero nob exhibited on this occasion - only a brooch and the recepbable alleged to contain the pearls. Plaintiff concluded her visit to Torquay on the 18th, and on the 21sb she received a lobtor from Mrs Hargreave announcing the loss of the pearls. A few days later plaintiff received a second letter from Mrs Hargreave, in tho course of which it was suggested that no ordinary burglar could have taken tho jewels. To this letter plaintiff replied in sympabhebic terms. "Nothing fuithor of importance occurred until the9bh of March, when plaintiff and hor sisters wero engaged in sending out invitations to attend the marriage of the former with Captain Osborne. This interesting occupation was 'interrupted by plaintiff's brother, who conveyed bhe sbartling intelligence that she had been accused of stealing bhe jewels. Ifc had meanwhile been ascertained that on the 19th of February, the day after plaintiff left Torquay, a fashionably-dressed young lady had called on Messrs Spink, of Grace-church-street, and in the name of Miss A. Price, 14, Hyde Park Gardens, had SOLD THEM TWO OF THE MISSING PEARLS FOR £550.

Plaintiff, along with her brother and sisters, ab once confronted Mr Spink, who indicated his firm belief that plaintiff was the lady who sold him the pearls. She was highly indignant, but an assistanfcconrirmed his masber's impression. The bank clerk who had cashed bhe cheque was less positive in his identiticabion, bub his impreeaiop coincided with the positive conviction of Mr Spink and his assistant. Under the severesb fire of cross - examination by the Solicitor-General, however, tho plain tiff adhered to her protest: of innocence, and in support of an alibi declared that until she visited Messrs Spink in company with her brother and sisters she had never in her life been nearer tho city than the Temple, where hor brother had chambers. ABSORBING INTEREST IN THE CASE.

Writing on December 21st, our special correspondent who was in Court, says : — The greab pearl mystery, which is ab present abbracting such a large share of public abtention, seems likely ab bhe bime of writing bo have a more remarkable finale than any shilling shocker. Towards the end of last week popular interest began to Hag, most intelligent thinkers having come to the conclusion theb Mrs Osborne's (Miss Elliot's) alibi for the all-important 19th of February would not do, and that there was no mystery at all about the case save the mystery of the lady's surprising assurance in BRAZENING THE MATTER OUT. Then, however, Major Hargreave (bhe husband of bhe lady whose jewels wero stolen) went inbo bhe box, and comtnibted himself so ogrogionsly in cross-examination as bo once again upseb one's enbire conclusions. Miss Elliob's (Mrs Osborne's) posibion is to-day as follows:—On tho morning after she returned from Torquay, the jewels stolen from Mrs Hargreave wero sold to Spink (in the city), between twelve and one, for £550, and four characters, independent witnesses, swear the vendor was Miss Elliot. Tho lady, by way Of reply, proves that she was ab Humphreys', in Soubh Kensington, aboub 12, and ab Mdme. Poncehot's, close by, between 1.30 and 2. For tho intervening time she fcannot account, save by saying she was " walking about." No one (unfortunabely) saw her jusb ab the time she is alleged to have been in the city. Miss Elliot, to pub ib shorbly, has an hour and a-half unaccounbed for. Bub, say her defenders, even so, bhe shortest time the journey to Spink's and back from South Kensington could be accomplished in is an hour and three-quarters; THE ALIBI.

The corroborative evidence in support of Miss Elliot's alibi was nob very sbrong. Her servanbs' memories proved too good altogether. They recollected their mistress' every movement on tho 19bh and 23rd, but couldn't say what she did on the 20bh. bhe 24th, or indeed on any other day. Tho Spinks are most positive the bhiof was Miss Elliot and NO "MAKE-UP."

Mr Spink says he saw the visitor on two occasions for more than fifteen minutes without a veil. Both times he was suspicious. On February 19th ho drew his brother's attention to his visitor, and on the 23rd requested two assistants to take careful note of her. The bank clerks who cashed Spink's cheque felt curious too concerning a lady who wanted 550sovs in gold, and it made bhetn look ab her longer than they otherwise would. When the Court rose on Friday ib was arranged the trial should be adjourned

over Monday in order to permit counsel on both sides to inquire into an important letter received by bho judge, and when Tuesday morning came popular EXPECTATION WAS ON TIPTOE. The day happened bo be very fog.y and tbe Courb dark, so fchafc Sir Chas. Russell had risen bo speak before the reporters noticed that the Osbornes and Mrs Geach were nob in their accustomed seats.

Sir Chas. Russell rose and said :—My lord, I have a very distressing announcement to make to your lordship and the jury for my learned friends and myself as representing the plaintiff. I have a sorious, and to me most painful duty to perform. Since this Court sab on Saturday evening certain facts have come bo bho knowledge of bhe plaintiff's advisers, and through them of tho plaintiff's counsel, which render ib impossible thab we should continue to represent the plaintiff longer. (Sonsation). My lord, WE CANNOT FURTHER REPRESENT THE PLAINTIFF, and the result must be bhab a verdict passes for bhe defendanbs. In any view we would have felt ib our duty to nursue bhab course, bub we think ib right to add that in taking bhab course we are acting, not merely with the authority ot Captain Osborne, but, it is nob boo much bo say, upon his imperative instructions. As I mention this gentleman's name (here Sir Charles Russell's voico was broken by emotion as ho paused), I hope I may be permibbed bo say bhat throughout bhe whole of this matter he has acted as a thoroughly honourable and chivalrous gentleman.

Mr Justico Donman, after addressing tho jury and receiving their formal verdict, Haiti : Well, gentlemen, there is now nothing more to do, and a verdict passes by consent for tho defendants.

Mrs and Major Hargreave were warmly congratulated by a large number of their friends in tho Court upon the successful termination ot the case.

Commenting on tho case, our correspondent says : "Of what hind metal in hearb us in conscience must; nob bins woman bo composed ! She had not only bo hoodwink a lot of relations, tradesmen, and lawyers; she had to

DECEIVE THE MAN WHO LOVED HER,

and who was ab tho same time ono of tho most generous and chivalrous of his kind. A single moment of foar might have made her pause before the others. A single moment of womanly feeling would have made hor pause before him. Miss Elliot cannot surely have loved Osborne much, or she would never have married him till she was safe. Another fact which hardens one's heart against this criminal heroine is tho remembrance of the discreditable reflections she insidiously cast on tho message of the couple she had just treacherously robbed. Ib was nob sufficient to imply that the poor, muddled major was a thiol ; the girl must also cast him for tho mean and contemptible role of man complaisant. For this latter charge she had, I see it said, no more justification than for tho former. It was a malevolent falsehood, deliberately calculated to prejudice the public and the jury.