解説　場面 15「新聞の記事」

"Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, where she found matters as described by the last witness. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was carried out of court."

「ホテル・コスモポリタン宝石盗難事件。配管工ジョン・ホーナー（26）は、今月 22 日、モーカー伯爵夫人の宝石箱から、青いガーネットの名で知られる高価な宝石を盗み出した容疑で、法廷に引き出された。同ホテルの客室係主任ジェイムズ・ライダーの証言によれば、彼は盗難の当日、暖炉の火格子の二本目の棒がゆるんでいたのをはんだ付けさせるため、ホーナーをモーカー伯爵夫人の化粧室へ案内した。ライダーはしばらくホーナーと一緒にいたが、やがて呼ばれてその場を離れた。戻ってみると、ホーナーの姿はなく、書き物机はこじ開けられ、のちに分かったところでは伯爵夫人がいつも宝石をしまっていたモロッコ革の小箱が、空のまま化粧台の上に転がっていた。ライダーはすぐに急を知らせ、ホーナーはその晩のうちに逮捕されたが、石は彼の身からも部屋からも見つからなかった。伯爵夫人の小間使いキャサリン・キューザックは、盗難に気づいたライダーのうろたえた叫び声を聞いて部屋へ駆け込むと、前の証人が述べたとおりの有様だった、と証言した。B 管区のブラッドストリート警部は、ホーナーを逮捕したときの様子を証言し、ホーナーは必死に抵抗して、このうえなく強い言葉で無実を訴えたと述べた。被告に強盗の前科があるとの証言が出たため、治安判事はこの罪を略式で裁くことを拒み、巡回裁判に回した。審理のあいだ激しく感情を高ぶらせていたホーナーは、終わりに気を失い、法廷から運び出された」