The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-28

The Version of the Story Current in the House
of Commons.

H.. Cameron Richardson, in Philadelphia Telegraph.
Sir Charles is about forJy-two. and has been a
widower for some eleven years. the cremation of
his wife, which took place at Dresden in 1874,
having been one of the sensations of that year.
He says that lie will be able to disprove the
charges which have been brought against him;
but the case will not come on till December or
January next, and until then he is bound TO be
under a cloud, for people will argue that such
charges are not brought without some sort of
foundation. He has offered to give up his seat
in Parliament if his constituents so will it, but
when they see such people as the Duke Of Mari
borough and others sitting in the gilded chamber
and making laws for the country, the Chelse a
Radicals are hardly likely to give up a represent
atlve who is so thoroughly of their own way Of
thinking. Should the case be proved. though. it
will be rough on the Republican baronet. as it
would mean the loss of his hopes of promotion.
A man who would not be received at court could
hardly hope to be Prime Minister of England
not until il becomes Il Republic, at any rate.
The current story afoat and repeated hourly
in the House of Commons regarding the affair is
not a little singular. 1t is but right. however. to
Sir Charles Duke to say that this version of the
matter was first put about by the husband of the
lady in question. The tale runs that Sir Charles
fell violently in love with Mrs. Donald Crawford
who is a daughter of Mr.. Z. Eustice Smith, NJ.
L. for Tynemouth, and sister to the widow of
the late Mr.. Ashton w. Dixie. who was Sir
Charles brother. She is not strikingly beauti-
full, but has a magnificent figure, and her general
appearance is pleasing. She is now only about
twenty years old, while both her husband and
Sir Charles are double her age. Mr.. Crawford is
a brieiess b~arrister, and was only too glad to
accept a government appointment which Sir
Charles Duke easily procured for him. The
Baronet, so the story runs, finally found it would
be very convenient to have a place in town close
to Westminster. where he could sleep if de-
tanned late. Mr.. and Mrs. Crawford were de-
lighted to have the honor of entertaining the
great man, and assigned him a room in their
house, and gradually he came to live there al
together while In town. Very soon after this he
became altogether too intimate with Mrs. Craw-
ford. and for about a year, it is said, this criminal
intimacy went on. Three or four nights a week
Sir Charles managed to find urgent work for the
husband which detained him until a late hour.
Mr.. Crawford was poor and only too pleased to
make all the money he could by working over
time. Latterly Sir Charles got tired of the in.
trigue, and was casting about for some graceful
way of giving up the liaison, when a young lady
friend of Mrs. Crawford came a-visitiug to the
house, and the amorous Baronet straightway
fell in love with the fair visitor. In course Of
time the siege was carried on so vigorously that
the fortress yielded, and Sir Charles had two
ladies on his hands at the same time and in the
same house. Such a complicated state Of affairs
could not in the nature of things last long, and
one night Mrs. Crawford, on visiting the Baron
cts room en- deshabille, was driven to Jealous
frenzy by discovering her rival already there.
Her rage got the better of her Judgment. Hell
knows no fury like a woman scorned." She
ragged and stormed at the pertidious Lothario at
the top of her voice. The other lady tainted:
Sir Charles caught her in his arms and sprinkled
cold water upon her; all were in their night gear.
Up came the servants, half dressed. wondering
what all the row was about-Mrs. Crawford still
continuing her loud reDroaches. In the midst of
all this huobub in walked Mr.. Donald Crawford,
but even his presence did not abash the infatu-
ated woman. who, confessing her liaison. actually
claimed her husbands sympathy in her grievance
Sir Charles offered EGO, 900 to square" the affair.
| can't vouch for the truth of this report, but I
may say it is the current account of the affair,
and was told me-, almost word for word, by an
M. p.