A SOCIETY THIEF.

Timaru Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 5354, 5 February 1892, Page 4

A SOCIETY THIEF.

A moat extraordinary case is now (London Dec. 18) being tried m the High Court of Juatico. In the middle of last February a youug lady named Ethel Elliott, who was residing with her aister and brother at Buttons, io South Kensington, and who was the daughter and grand-daughter of men of wealth and respectable position, was stopping with o second cousin, Mrs Hargreavea, thu wifo of Major Hargreaves, of Torquay. Mrs U:,r_reiveß showed Miss iilliott where her jewels, which were extremely valuable — one valuation being ac high ob £15,000 -were kept. Mies Elliott left Torquay for London on the JBih Febtuary. On the 19th a joung woman of ladylike appearance Bold some pearls to a goldsmith and jeweller named Spink, residing m Graoechurch-street, for the sum of £550. and received m payment a crossed cheque. Hhe gave the name of I rice, and said that Bhe resided at an addresß m London. The directory wos soarched and it was found that the houaio Bhe indicated wbb occupied by another person, and blio then said that she wbb only stopping there, and tbat hor house was al Bradford, Yorkshire. On tho 23rd inst flbo returned to Spink, and complained that the bank would not pay a crossed cheque, whereupon Mr Spink gave her an open one, and Bhe went away. Between the 19th and 23rd Mrs Hargreaves complained to the police that her pearls had been stolen. Eventually it was discovered that they had beon sold to Messrs Spink, ond the photograph of Misa Elliott being shown them, ibey recognised her aa tho young Jady who offered tbem for sale, and tha clerk who cashed the cheque gavo a qualified identification. But she has accounted by^many reputable witnesses for erery moment of her time on both the 1 9th nnd the 23rd, and it would be physically impossible for her to have gone from ber home m South Kensington to Spink's and to have returned in-less than an hour and a half. The cuse has' beeii already before the law courts m an action brought by Major and Mrs H»r greave against Messrs Spink for the recovery of the pearls, and Misß Elliott, who hos sinco the occurrence married Captain Osborne of the Oarabinoers, is now proceeding against the Harereaveß for elcioder. The cbbo is exciting a groat deal of interest, and some rather remarkable developments are expected. _oable intelligence has been received which Btates tint the caso came to an abrupt closo on the 22nd December. It *?ai> ascertained that Mrs Osborno (Miss Elliott) had negotiated tbe cheque drawn by Messrs Spink, and her .cauusol thereupon threw up his brief. 3