Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-15
"LORD GUMBOYLE."
The Titled Simpleton Who Died Yester-
day and the Eortescue suit.

Earl Cairns, who died yesterday, gained his
chief notoriety as defendant in the Fortescue
breach of promise suit. Miss Fortescue had
been educated as lady, but in consequence Of
her fathers failure in business had adopted
the stage as a profession, in order that she
might be able TO support her mother and sister.
Her salary was at FIRST three guineas a week,
and subsequently twice that sum. In 1882 she
made the acquaintance OF Lord Garmoyle, and
IN July, 1888 he proposed TO her. Miss For
tescue accepted, and at once informed her
mother. Lord Garmoyle's mother also in
formed the late Earl Cairns, who cordially ap-
proved his sons course and wrote to Miss
Fortescue in friendly spirit. to which she
suitably responded. Soon after this Earl
Cairns told his son that while he would not
have made such a choice, yet he gave his con-
sent to the marriage.
In August of the same year. however, Lord
Garmoyle informed Miss Fortescue that his
family had strong views against the stage and
at his request Miss Fortescue abandoned the
profession and her sister, vino preparing
to go on the stage, desisted from her prepara-
tlons. Miss Fortescue then invited TO Earl
Cairns home, where she received an Affection
ate greeting from the family. The next step
game ON January p. 1884, when Lord Garmoyle
suddenly and without the slightest previous
hint wrote to Miss Fortescue breaking off the
engagement. He expressed the deepest love
and admiration for her. but said his family
could not accept her on account of her profess
sion. Miss Fortescue promptly resented this
insulting treatment by bringing a suit of breach
OF promise OF marriage against Lord Garmoyle,
claiming g5O,OOO in damages. 1t came to trial
on November 26, 1854. in the presence OF
great crowd of fashionable people, but the
defendant was not among them.
After Sir Charles Russell had presented the
plaintiff 5 case, Sir Henry James, then attorney
general, arose and, after justlfying the course
pursued by Lord Garmoyle in breaking of the
engagement, declared that his client was then
willing, as'he had always been. TO grant a COM
pensation to the young lady for the broken con-
tract He would consent without objection TO
verdict of 10000. At the same time, he
added, Lord Carnegie wished to state that not
the slightest imputation rested ON Miss For
tescue's character. She had throughout their
intercourse conducted herself as a highly mod
est and high-minded English gentlewoman.
A verdict for this large amount was promptly
rendered, the money was paid over without de-
lay to Miss Fortescue, and she resumed her in
terrupted stage career.
On April 2, 1885. the first Earl Cairns died,
and Lord Garmoyle succeeded TO the title and
the prospect of ultimately inheriting a large
landed estate. Lord Cairns had continued mis-
search for suitable wife. and in February.
1856. his engagement was announced with Miss
Adele Grant. the beautiful and popular daugh-
ter of a prominent New Yorker. In three or
four months, however, il was announced that
the engagement had been broken by Miss
Grants father ''for unanswerable reasons"
According to the rumors current at the time,
the engagement was broken because Lord
Cairns insisted upon loan from the mother Of
his prospective bride to enable him to meet
the demands of his most pressing creditors
Lord Cairns continued his search for a wife,
and finally on December IL, 1887, secured one
in the person of Miss Olive Berens, a young
lady who is said to rival, If she does not sur
pass. in facial beauty Miss Fortescue and Miss
Grant Her mother is an authorizes and her
father, who belongs 10 a wealthy Hebrew
family. IL a gentleman famous for his skill in
photography and navigation. Her beauty 10
inherited from the Herberts of Mucross
The young earl leaves no children, so that
pass to his brother. the Hon. Herbert John
Cairns. who is now in his twenty-seventh year.