THE PEARL ROBBARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1892, Page 3

THE PEARL ROBBARY.

ESCAPE OF MRS. OSBORNE

(From Our London Correspondent.)

London, January 1. Mb Wontner says in his long career lie has htfd no more harrowing task than that of convincing Captain Osborno of his wile's guilt. Finally the husband went down to the Bank of England, taking his marriage settlement with him. In the Governor's (Mr Lidderdale's) parlour, the captain caretully compared the signaturo ' Ethel Elliott' on tho settlement with that on the traced bank-note. They wero identical. ' Are you quito convinced ?' asked the solicitor. Ostjorne could only nod. lb seams on Friday Mrs Osborne suspecbed bhe nature of tho communication the Judge had received, and paved bhe way for the disco/ory of the £50 note by confessing, or rather preteuding bo confess, bo her husband bhat before bheir wedding an anonymous admirer had sent her £50 as a present. It was this fable cropping up when it did which aroused in tho unhappy Osborne the tireb chill of suspicion. Up to that time his belief in Major Hargreave's guilb amounbed to positive conviction. Tho brother's (young Elliott's) faith in his sister Ethel's innoceuce was almost as strong.

I cannot agree with the writers who excuse Mrs Osborne's crime on the ground that she was mad. If the contriver of one of the cleverest plots of modern times is to be dubbed crazy,who can we call sane ? Dr. Irelat, of La Salpetriere, has written, I read, a clever work on monomania, erotomania, jealousy, dipsomania, squandermania, and kleptomania. ' Whatever may be their infinite variety and dissimilarity, these manias are,' ho says, ' all united by two pathognomonic signs never wanting in insane people. Firstly, nowhere can such ingratitude be found as this class display. Theyhaveabsolutelynoappreciationof kindness or considerabion. Secondly they listen to no arguments, they follow no advice, and never under any circumstances modify their determination.' Certainly this does (from what we know) fit in with Mrs Osborne's characteristics. The most striking thing, perhaps, in tho whole case is bhe following : —On Monday, when Captain Osborne imperatively demanded the motive which had forced his wife to crime, sho solemnly declared she knew of none. Tho then Miss Elliott was (as she eworo ab bhe trial) in no desperate strait, for money. She robbed her friend simply for the satisfaction of having a large sum for once in a way to spend. In proof of. this, she handed to her husband tho still unspent balance of over £300. Miss Elliott reckoned, it seems, on certain circumstances connected With tho Hargreave menage rendering Mra H. unwilling to make much public fuss concerning the loss of her jewels. In this she wa3 right. Tho Hargreaves had no desire to prosecute. What the ovor-clovor lady did'nob counb upon was Captain Osborne's chivalrous activity to clear her name. Ib proved as awkward and embarrassing to her (being guilty) as ib would havo been helpful and consoling had she been innocent. Captain and Mrs Osborne and Miss Elliott left for tho Coiitineub on Monday nighb. The city poiico watched their movements on Saturday, and wero ready ab any momenb (when authorised) to arrest Mra O. I fancy, however, powerful influence was exerted on behalf of poor old Mr Elliott (who is 84) and tho Osborne family. Anyhow, no warrant was issued for tho peccant lady's apprehension till Christmas Eve, by which time there is reason to believe she was safe in Spain.

Among the numerous side issues raised by the famous pearl case, one or bwo are worthy of notice as being likely to bring forth legislation on certain matters. First, the position of Captain Osborne suggests the remark that in French law a divorce can be obtained from any person condemned to an infamous punishment, while no such relief is obtainable in England, even where one of the parties is sentenced for the term of their natural life. Another thing they seem to do better in France is the making it illegal to pay down purchase money of plate and jewellery without going to the sellor'shome and there baking down his name. Tho jewels for which Mrs Osborne forfeited everything worth possessing in this world beyond gold are now safely lodged at Coutt'B the banker's. The cabinet which played so prominent a part in tho trial fell to pieces whilst in transit back bo Torquay —'by favour of tho railway aubhorities,' as a contemporary sarcastically remarks.