BARONESS WHO DID NOT STEAL £500 MINIATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 14

BARONESS WHO DID NOT STEAL £SOO MINIATURE.

FOUND “ NOT GUILTY ” IN TRIAL AT HOME.

LONDON. March 4. Baroness Georgette Osteri Sacken, age 29. a Russian—stated by a witness to be, a niece of Victor Hugo— went into the witness-box at the Assizes at Lewes (Sussex) yesterday and told her story of how a £SOO miniature she was charged with stealing from Sir Archibald Watkin Hamilton, Bart., at Selscy, came into her possession.

The jur3 r retired just after 3.15 p.m., and after an absence of three-quarters of an hour returned a verdict of Not Guilty. /

The Baroness was at once discharged. On hearing the verdict she smiled round the Court, bowed to the Judge, and then left the dock, on the steps of which she shook hands with a number of her friends in Court. Outside the Court she was cordially greeted by many more friends, and her counsel were also warmly shaken by the hand. After tea at Sir Archibald’s, said the Baroness in her evidence, the party went into the drawing-room. She saw the miniature on the table, and after Sir Archibald had pointed out other things, she picked it up. Sir Archibald said something in English, placed his hand over hers (witness indicated to the Judge how this happened), and then she said to him, “For me?” in French. Before leaving, witness said to Sir Archibald in English, “ Thank j-oit very much. You are very nice.” She did not show the miniature either to Mrs Moss or her husband on the journey, because she thought her husband would be upset about it, as he was “ of a very jealous character.” She did not think it was of such value, and had in the course of her life received far more important presents. On their return to London she wore the miniature on several occasions. HUSBANDS SHOULDN’T ASK. Mr J. A. C. Keeves (for the Baroess) : Is there anything in the allegation that you stole that miniature? The Baroness (most emphatically striking the front of the witness box) : No, it is not true. Did you honestly believe that that miniature was given to you by Sir Archibald Hamilton?—l swear that I believed it. Cross-examined by Mr Flowers, the Baroness said that when her husband saw the miniature he remarked that it was pretty and asked her where she got it. She laughingly said to the Baron, “ Husbands should not ask questions.” Barbu Jonesco, a Rumanian. gave evidence of the Baron and Baroness having dinner with him and his wife on New Year’s Eve, and said she was wearing the miniature, and he and his wife admired it. The Baroness said in French, “ A souvenir from my last flirt.”