BARONESS AND BARONET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 7

BARONESS AND BARONET.

A MISSING MINIATURE. RUSSIAN LADY ACQUITTED. LONDON, March 11. The trial of Baroness Ostensacken, who was charged with stealing a miniature valued at £500 from Sir Archibald Hamilton's home at Selsey in January, ended in her acquittal. Her husband, the baron, had been previously acquitted and discharged. The two Russians had been the guests of Sir Archibald at tea. Their host showed them his art collection, and tifter they had left the miniature was :i>issed. The couple were arrested on alighting from the boat train at Southampton. The miniature was found in the possession of the baronets. She alleged that when she was looking over the collection she admired the miniature, whereupon Sir Archibald asked: "You really like it, baroness?" He thrust it into her hand, saving: "Then it is yours." Sir Archibald denied this story. He said he might have been a Don Juan in his youth, but he was older and wiser now. The baroness indignantly denied the theft. She repeated her assertion that Sir Archibald had presented her with the miniature. In summing up the judge said it was unpleasant to have to try a woman of good character and personal attraction. When the jury returned their verdict the baroness was overcome with joy. She ran from one end of the dock to the othnr. She then evaded the wardress and rushed into the jury box, where she animatedly thanked the jurors in French. The baron ran toward his wife and embraced her. Then the French witnesses practically carried her from the court. Out=ide the baroness was joined by lady friends, who rushed with her excitedly down the corridor, all laughing hysterically.— (A. and X.Z. Cable.)