Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-25
An EARLDON IN DISPUTE.


| An EARLDOM IN DISPUTE.
A Toronto Taller who Thinks tie Csa sei,e
a..
| Toronto (Csnadsl Globe. February 2otn.l
For the last thirteen years William
Stapleford, an Englishman, tailor by
trade, has been a resident Of Toronto.
AT present he is employed by Mr..
Sackman of King street, and has charge
of his work-room. In England Mr..
Stapleford was engaged in the same
business, and among his patrons was
the youthful Viscount Hinton, son Of
the sixth Earl Of Poulett. For some time
after coming to America Mr.. Stapleford
corresponded with Viscount Hinton,
but for about ten years past he has
never heard from him. Within the
last five or six weeks, however,
startling report has reached his ears.
1t seems, according to what Mr.. Staple
ford says, that the Earl Of Poulett
married very handsome young woman
named Elizabeth Newman. who was
greatly his inferior in social position.
At that time he was only captain in
the Seventh Regiment Of Fusiliers. The
marriage took place at Lyon Terrace,
Portsmouth. Some time afterward
Captain Poulett. through his father,
Admiral Poulett, succeeded to the earl
dom. As is sometimes the case when
a man of high position allies himself
with a woman of plebeian origin, the
Earl grew weary of the wife Of his early
days, and bestowed his attentions else
where. The result Of this was a sepa-
ration. the Countess receiving a small
annuity Of few hundred pounds. OF
this union William Turnor Thomas
Poulett, Yiscount Hinton, was the sole
issue. When the separation took place
the Countess Poulett and her son took
rooms at Mr. Stapleford's house, on
Brougham Terrace, in London. and re-
manned there until the time Of her death,
in ISL.
Not long afterward Mr.. Stapleford
left for America. and Lord Hinton was
supported by an annuity received from
Mr.. Annesley, Of No. & Lincoln's Inn,
his fathers lawyer. The Earl, after
the death of his wife, married a woman
who for long time had been his mis-
tress, and by her he had one son. Mr..
Stapleford is now informed that the
Earl seeks to deny the claim of his eld-
est son, and to supplant him with the
child Of his former mistress. Lord
Poulette, he says, has never attempted
to cast any doubt upon the legitimacy
Of Niscount Hinton, but will simply
seek to deny his identity. Mr.. Staple
ford is well able to establish Lord Hin
ton S claim. and is now most anxious
to proceed to England and give his evil
depce in favor of his old patron. lie
asserts that the latter did not treat him
very well in money matters, aud is
considerably in his debt. When he
beard. however, that the Earl sought TO
dispute his sons just claim his indig-
nation was aroused, and he at once an
nounced that before long he would re-
turn to England and offer his testimony
in favor of Lord Hinton.
Mr.. Stapleford was first informed of
this action of Earl Poulett's through a
leading law firm of this city. This
firm sent for him and, as he says,
pumped him as to what he knew in
the interests Of Earl Poulett, and then
informed him that they would have to
write to Mr.. j. {. StogdoD. of No. Is !
Clements Inn, London, before tell
ing him what they would do.
This gentleman, on hearing that
Nr. StaplefOrd's testimony would
be directly in favor of Lord Hin
ton, wrote to his agents in Toronto. |
and directed them to inform Mr. Sta 4,
plefOtd that they would do nothing for |
him. Mr.. StaplefOrd for some time has
been anxious to return to England, and |
wished to he furnished with sufficient
money to enable him to do so. He has
now made up his mind that he will leave
no stone unturned to see that Lord Hin
ton is not deprived Of his rights. and
purposes at once to communicate with
Mr.. Brooks, Of Doctors Commons. the
NiScount's solicitor.
NiscOunt Hinton was born at South
sea, December 10. lS49, and was edu.
Gated at Church-House College, Merton,
Surrey. He was for some time engaged
as clown and pantomimist at
the Surrey theatre and elsewhere
under the nom de guere Of "Mr.
COsmaD." On December 6, 1869. he
Miss Lydia Ann Shippy, ballet
dancer, and has issue liying-viz.. the
Hon. William Henry George and the
Hon. Amy Kate Rose.
The London Ners, just to hand, con-
tains report Of proceedings at the
Lambeth Police Court in a case in
" hich Viscount Hinton stood charged,
with others, in a conspiracy to obtain
goods by false pretences. George Al
cock was represented to be an
'gent for Hinton in the pur-
chase Of a couple Of hammerless
guns for E2l and E27, and evidence was
given to show that Hinton received the
guns. Payment not forthcoming, the
iealer endeayored to find Lord Hin
on's address. and not succeeding
wrote to his father, Lord Poulett. but
he letter was returned through the
lead-letter Office. The case was ad-
burned.
Kisses GnId for naIIur