THE ARMSTRONG CASE. Committal of the Defendants. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 129, 21 November 1885, Page 4

THE ARMSTRONG CASE. Committal of the Defendants. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, October 7. The last scene of the initial act of the famous or infamous Armstrong abduction case was played out at Bow street on the 26th ult,, when the magistrate, after listening to a lengthy, egotistic, and frequently irrelevant speech from Mr Stead, committed that gentleman and his confederates for trial. The unabated interest felt in the affair was manifested by the crowded aspect of the vicinity of the Court from an early hour in the morning. Happily, the police were fully prepared for the contingency. A double patrol kept Bow-3treet pretty clear, and only those actively interested in the investigation or armed with orders from Mr Vaughan were able to penetrate into Court. Ten o'clock had been the hour appointed for the commencement of proceedings, but when it struck the only persons actually engaged in the case present were Mr Poland, Mr Cuffe, and Mr Pollard, who had taken their accustomed place in the counsel's pew, and Madame Mourey, who was seated on the bench usually reserved for witnesses. Amongst those on the bench were Professor Stuart, M.P., Mr Catlin, and the Hon. Auberon Herbert. Shortly before half -past ten Mr Charles Russell, Q.C, M.P., Mr Waddy, Q.C, M.P., and Mr Uckf old entered the Court, Mr Stead and Mr Bramwell Booth arriving exactly at the half-hour, and entering into consultation with their legal representatives. Five minutes later Mr Vaughan took his seat on the Bench. The prisoners were then ushered into their respective places: Jarrett, who sat alone in the dock, and who seems to possess the extensive wardrobe of a quick changing artist, had again varied her outward attire. She wore a long black cloak, with a large hood lined with white fur, and a smart-looking cavalier hat of brown straw, trimmed with brown ribbon and ornamented in front with a large bunch of brown ostrich feathers and a silver buckle. Madame Mourey, sitting as usual on the extreme left of the other prisoners, had also varied her attire. She wore on this occasion a long black cloak lined with fur, and a black silk bonnet covered with bugle lace and ornamented with black ostrich feathers and a bunch of green foliage. Mrs Coombe, seated next to her, figured in a dark cloak, a plain brown straw bonnet trimmed with brown ribbon, and a white neckerchief. Mr Jacques was in grey tweed, with a yellow necktie ; and the other two prisoners had not altered'their dross. Jarrett sat quietly with one hand to her face, but glanced about with an evident interest in the proceedings. Her example in this respect was followed by both Mrs Coombe and Mr Jacques. Mr Stead, as usual, was busy note-taking, Madame Mourey wore her wonted placid aspect, and Mr Bramwell Booth a reflective air. After William Scott, a clerk in the Telegraphic Department of the General Post Office, had formally proved the source of some telegrams, and Eliza Armstrong had been recalled to prove that she had been taken to 27, Nottingham Place, Marylebone, the examination in chief of Inspector Borner was resumed by Mr Poland. The main point elucidated was the fact of Eliza Armstrong having pointed out a house in Poland-street as the one to which she was taken. Mr Russell declined to , cross-examine, and perhaps Mr Waddy would have done better to follow Lis example, since all he managed to elioit was a laugh against himself. Mr Overerid put a question or two with his accustomed deliberation and distinctness touching the nterview of the witness with .Maaarn^

Mourey. The last-named did nob appear particularly moved by the efforts of her defender, though she listened with some attention. Mr Stead then rose, and with a prefatory smile, began hia cross-examination of the witness. He lacks, it is to be presumed, that experience which should enable a counsel to receive replies most adverse to his case with apparent unconcern. Several times" when Borner's answers did not take the turn his interrogator evidently anticipated, the latter drew back with a marked look of disappointment, while his pleasure at eliciting what he evidently dosired was very apparent in the tone in which the next inquiry was put. At length Mr Vaughan felt bound to interpose to check the line of cross-examination, and a moment after had to sternly rebuke Mr Jacques for calling out " Hear, hear" as a comment on one of Mr Stead's remarks. At this time Mrs Weldon was busily engaged in endeavouring to enter the Court. The officials on duty had given her the option of entering the body of the Court, but she expressed her wish to be accommodated on the box. Again Mr Vaughan had to inter pose to confine the questions within the limits of cross-examination, and at length Mr Stead sat down, and after a couple of inquiries from Mr Poland, Borner's deposition was read over to him and signed. Mrs Weldon meanwhile in the counsel's room was expressing her determination that the prisoners should not be smuggled out of the Court premises in the van, but should march out under her guidance, and face the crowd with their heads up as people who have no cause to be ashamed. Inspector Yon Tornow waB next called, and detailed his journey to France in quest of the missing girl, also identifying certain letters put in. Whilst he was doing so Jarrett laid aside her furlined cloak, which must have been unpleasantly warm, judging from the temperature in Court, and ap- § eared in a plain but neatly cut black stuff ress fastened at the neck by a silver brooch. At the close of the examination Mr Stead put one or two questions, his example being followed by Mr Waddy. William Moody, a man wearing the uniform of a messenger of the "Pall Mall Gazette," to which heis office-keeper, identified the handwriting of Mr Stead. Mr Stead admitted the handwriting of one document, but declined to recognise that of another, and on this latter being shown to Mr Jacques he also repudiated it aa v an invention of the enemy," amidst some laughter. Mr Nunnely, a short-hand reporter, swore to notes of Mr Stead's speech at St. James's Hall. Inspector Pope produced copies of the " Pall Mall Gazette.' Whilst his evidence was in progress Mr George Lewis entered the Court and took a seat near his client, Mr Stead, with whom he entered into consultation, whilst Mr Sandford, a messenger at the Treasury, also proved the purchase of a copy of the " Pall Mall Gazette." This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Charles Russell made a speech eulogisingthe motives by which thedefendants were actuated, but admitted to a certain extent that even in such cases a technical breach of the law might be committed. He also spoke severely of the conduct of Mr and Mrs Armstrong and Mrs Broughton, Mr Vaughan then addressed the usual cautions to the prisoners, couched in somewhat more lengthy termß than is customary. Jarrett listened very intently to this, leaning forward to catch the learned magistrate's words. Madame Mourey also exhibited some interest. There was a hush of expectation as Mr Stead rose, and, in solemnly melodramatic tones, began to announce the fact of hi 3 having prepared a lengthy statement, which he desired to read. Sir Vaughan felt bound to remind him at the outset that he must confine himself to certain limits. In answer, he obtained a flourish to the effect that this statement had not been drawn up without counsel's opinion. Mr Stead then began to read one of the most remarkably high-flown documents ever heard in a police-court, but was speedily nipped in the bud by the magistrate. A discursive argument followed, the defendant urging his point pereiBtently,aud making a further appeal to 'magisterial compassion and indulgence." Mr Stead suggested that he should make his statement, and have the paesages objected to struck out afterwards, but the magistrate quietly declined to allow this. The defendant kept persisting, and at length Mr Vaughan had the opening sheet of the statement handed up to him for examination and declined to allow it to be read. Mr Stead at once began upon the second slip. The magistrate checked him till he had seen this, and a second time signified his refusal. Mr Stead tried his third Blip, but again Mr Vaughan refused to let him go on till he had also seen this. After much demur, the third slip of the speech, which was in type, was handed to him, and with the same result. Again and again MrStead tried, but slipafter slip was rejected, though Mr Stead hinted that it was ' f physically impossible " for the magistrate to read through the slips in the time Mr Vaughan allotted to them. The defendant tried to get a start by having his slips handed up to the magistrate one at a time, and at once starting off at score in the hopes of getting at least a few of his remarks made public. He again declared that the magistrate did not give sufficient time to their perusal, and sought to challenge certain passages. The scene gradually assumed an aspect that would have been ludicrous had.it not been painful to all who entertained any respect for a court of justice. Still, the laughter that broke out was really irrepressible under the circumstances. At length, when the fourteenth slip was reached, the magistrate allowed it to be read. This permission Mr Stead availed himself of with much theatrical emphasis and arching of his eyebrows, but after a certain time was checked by the magistrate, with whom he had another argument resulting in a further deletion. Jarrett looked very uncomfortable during the reading of the passages relating to herself, sitting with closed eyes and contracted features, and Madame Mourey glanced at Mr Stead with a very reproachful air when her doings were dilated upon. Another deletion took place, and Mr Stead then handed up a bottle of chloroform with a flourish. He also favoured the Court with an imitation of Eliza Armstrong's voice when she cried out. "There is a man in the room." Some more passages were suppressed at intervals, and a few arguments ensued, but of no real moment. Mr Stead spoke of the conduct of the police with much bitterness, and dwelt in sneeringly triumphant tones on their failure to avail themselves of the information fchey might have obtained on application at the "Pall Mall Gazette." He mouthed out his assertion against Mrs Armstrong with most exaggerated emphasis, and incurred a rebuke from the Magistrate. He proceeded to traverse some of the evidence, and finally argued on the legal aspects of the case, contending no offence had been committed even technically. He wound up with a peroration of the most high-flown character, taking unto himself much credit for the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and denouncing the existence of vice in high quarters, and claiming to have been the " guiding hand and directing brain" of tho whole investigation.

The Magistrate,in giving his decision,spoke briefly, practically, and very much to the point. The question was whether Eliza Armstrong had been taken fraudulently from the possession of her parents , because if so, fraud admitted consent. He thought the evidence of JMra Armstrong, Mrs B roughton, and their neighbours was clear on this point. Jarrett pretended she wished to hire the girl aa a servant, whereas she in reallity wanted her for quite another purpose. Mr Vaughan then went over the points connecting Mr Stead, Generalßooth, and Madame Combe with the abduction, winding up with j the following cogent remarks :— ! There has been a good deal said about motive. Mr Stead has, no doubt, in a very able paper endeavoured to show that his motive has been a praiseworthy one. It may have been. It may have been a lofty and pure motive, but I confess that, although he may have had a desire to remove this child from impure associations, that can be no legal justification of the offence with which he is charged. But it might also have been a different motive. There may have been a motive existing in his mind— a desire to get together materials for the concoction of that deplorable and nauseous article v. Inch appeared in the "Pall Mall Gazette ' of the 6th of July — (cheering in Court) — an article which certainly has giveu great pain and sorrow to many good people, and has greatly lowered the English people in the estimation of foreign nations. (Cheers.) Mr Jacques : That shows your animus. The Magistrate (continuing) : 1 say, moreover, tho law of this country cannot bo broken for the gratification of any motive, however good, and I for my own part cannot see how, supposing any religious enthusiast were te think it fitting to enter a family and take a child out of that family whose parents entertain a different religious I belief from the tenets of that enthusiast— l cannot understand how on the same principle as this case is justified that taking away should not also be justified. It seems to me it would be mopt fatal and perilous if such an infraction of the law were to be admitted on such a motive as this. I say also that it appears to me that if such usurpation of authority over the moral, over the religious life of individuals were not to be restrained by law, that there would be an end to the freedom and the security and of the independence of every family of this country. (Cheers.) Upon principle, upon law, upon the facts, it is my duty to commit the defendants for trial for the various offences charged against them, excepting only the charge of indecent assault against Mrs Combe and Mr Bramwell Booth. Mr Jacques, who, throughout the investigation, treated the magistrate with open contempt, greeted his peroration with a satirical howl of laughter. A recent cable meesage stated that Mr Stead had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, Mr Jacques to one year, and Mrs Jarrett and Madame Mourey to six months each, the latter with hard labour.