Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-13
ARARFS PROGRESS.
Lord IT. Leonards' Downward Career
\ Disgrace to His Family.

Lord 1t. LeOnards' Downward Career
\ Disgrace to His Family.
Though the seduction of domestic SER
wants is no longer the favorite pastime of
the English aristocracy, says a Herald
cable. yet Lord st. Leonards' case eXcites
a little surprise. Since this distinguished
person succeeded to a seat in the House
of Peers his time has been occupied in
finding the means to crafty the tastes of
a millionaire on the income of a cross
ing-sweeper. His family allowed him { 40
a wear. and though his skill as a billiard
player and pigeon shot added something
to this sum. vet everybody fOTesaw that
his path lay straight for the Old Bailey
dock. which no Peer has occupied for
many years.
ORIGIN OF A TITLE.
When Edward Sugden, his grandfather,
rose from the position of errand boy IN a
cOnVeyancer's office to the position of
Lord Chancellor of England he hoped to
lay the foundation of great family. The
father of the Chancellor was a hair
dresser. and the shop is still open in
Burlington street where the elder Sugden
curled the locks Of the nobility and gentry
in the days of George III. Like other
eminent lawyers, Lord st. LeOnards died
intestate. and his family fought tor the
possession of Boyle farm, one of the most
beautiful seats ON the Thames. The
grandson, who succeeded to the title of
the old man. had declared TO butler and
"A nurse his intention of leaving BOYLE
farm to his brother. The evidence of the
butler and nurse was accepted, and the
second Baron IT. LeOnards was thrown on
the world with an income of $40 year.
MARRIAGE AND DISGRACE.
The title won him a wife. His family
plumed themselves on arranging match
with Miss Eastwood, who had a hundred
thousand pounds in her own right. But
with the sudden accession of wealth the
new peer began to indulge eccentric
tastes. His favOrite companions were
Jockeys and pigeon fanciers. HIS fayOrite
resort was the shady villas of st. Johns
Wood. Elected a member of the Carlton
Club. he lent the weight of his presence
to a few debates. then Subsided into orgies
which landed him first in the divorce
court and lastly in bankruptcy. Thence
forward his decadence was complete.
Stunned by his friends, he engaged a
small lodging at Richmond, where the
billiard tables are many and the skill Of
the players is slight. For a short time the
rustics were proud to lose money to a
peer of the realm.
HIS LAST INDISCRETIONS.
Then ugly rumOrs about him ran round
the town. Hotels and bars closed their
doors against him. Barmaids ran away
at his approach. He had not absolutely
"a penny i'm the world when chance threw
him across the path of Mr.. Samuel Craw-
ford. Of Trickenham, who had been
miner in California, a sheep farmer in
Australia. and, being a genial person, he
invited the bankrupt peer into his house
and piled him with liquor and hospitality.
Lord st. Leonards drank the liquor and
repaid the hospitality by seducing maid.
He now lies in the House of Detention at
Clerkenwell, and his presence was missed
last night in the House of Lords. where
his vote on the pigeon shooting bill would
have been accepted as the vote OF an ex-
pert. and would have helped to outweigh
the argument of his fellow legislator. the
Archbishop of Canterbury.