Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-10
DEATH OF A ROUE
Duke of Marlborough Found
Dead i'm Bed.
BAD HEART AND DISSIPATION
The Story of q Career Of Pfofigacy Al :
most Without Parallel Among
Englsnd's Nobility.

Spencer Churchill, ninth duke OF Marl-
borough, was found dead In his room
IN Blenhelm palace this morning.
There was great excitement in eluband
society circles when the fact Was made
known. Although the duke had not
been III good health for some time his
sudden death caused great surprise
and shared pubic interest almost
equally with the American election.
He has OF late been giving considerable
attention To his Blenheim estate.
Since he was permitted by the court
last December to sell certain outlying
portions of the Blenheim property for
repayment of money expended in the
improvement of the remainder he has
shown q desire to place Blenheim In
the best condition possible. He re-
tired last evening as usual and when
servant went to his apartment this
morning to assist In his toilet he made
no response. The servant approached
the bed and At once saw that the duke
was dead. A physician was promptly
summoned and an examination showed
that the duke had been dead for sew
eral hours. The cause OF death has
not yet been ascertalned.
| The duke was the ninth to wear his
historic title ard is chiefly dlstin-
guished here IA having outdone q long
line Of dissipated predecessors in ex-
travagance and profigacy.
| Married an American.
! To Americans the announcement of
his death viii be of interest on account
of his marriage few years ago to Mrs.
Hamersley, of New York. The newly
made widow, before she became q
duchess, was the wife of Louis c.
! Hamersley, who died, leaving her a
fortune of many millions. After the
usual period of mourning Mrs. Ham
ersley appeared in society, and there IT
was she met the duke of Marlborough.
Owing to the fact that the duke was q
divorced man the wedding could not
be sOlemnIzed in an episcopal church,
but the religious ceremony was per-
formed by baptist clergyman and the
civil ceremony subsequently by Mayor
Hewitt at the city hall.
The duke was profiigate by instinct
and even when q boy his escapades
were such that he was sent abroad,
where he continued his designations.
Returning to England, he married Al
bertha Frances Anne Hamilton, sixth
daughter of the first duke of Abercorn.
The lady was one of the most beautiful
women in Great Britain. The duke
had only been married q little over a
year when he became involved in the
fessiOn of Lady MOrdaunt SIX of the
1 l,sh Ind he Ia IN
duke, then the marquis of Blandford,
Wales Manly Lie.
The queen continued her efforts with
the husband and brought the prime
minister, the renowned Lord Palmer
ston, the leading members of the house
of lords and The heads of many ancient
families IN England to bear upon him.
They promised him all sorts Of honors
in fact, anything he wished to ask
for. He might have had what there
was to give beneath the crown, but all
to no purpose. The case was brought
to trial amid the greatest public excite
ment, as it involved not only dukes
and the sons of dukes, but the heir to
the throne.
The great crisis in the cause arrived
when the prince of Wales was put on
the stand rs q witness. AS the future
king of Great Britain and Ireland stood
before that venerable and august court,
the counsel for the defense. one of the
most lllustrious members Of the English
bar, got on his feet and Informed the
witness that he was not bound to say
anything that would criminats himself.
There was dead silence, such pause
| in hn q nd
momentous periods. At last the royal
lips opened and the words came slow
and measured. The prince swore that
he knew Lady Mordaunt we'll but only
as q friend and a friend Of his wife; he
had never been criminally intimate
with her. The audience broke into
wild cheers.
Sells n Few Pictures.
On the death Of the old duke of
Marlborough the marquis succeeded to
the title. The new duke of MARI
borough kept up the reputation of the
marquis OF Blandford and allowed no
grass TO grow under his feet as the
years sped on. His reckless extraya-
gance emptled his treasury and his
next grand public appearance was as
vender of pictures. His father had
been compelled TO sell the vast Ben
helm library, sll the antique gems,
Limoges and enamels, anu there were
only the magnificent paintings remain
Ing. The sale of these br nght HIM "A
fortune again, which he Immediately
proceeded 10 spend. Then came the
Lady Colin Campbell scandal and
shortly aftcrward his visit To New York
city where he met and married Mrs.
Hamersley. The requirements of the
duchess for available cash began al
most Immediately after her marriage
with the duke.
The duke was brother of Lord Ran-
dolph Churchill. Ills full name and
title was George Charles Spencer
Churchill, duke of Marlborough. mar
qu,s of hlandford, earl of Sunderland.
earl ct Marhor ugh, Baron Spencer OF
Wormlegh aud Baron Churcnisi OF
ssndridge lall ~ England. prince of
the Holy Roman Empire aud prince OF
Mindelheini IN Snabia. The duke was
descended from the great English COM
mander. John Chnrchill. whose mill
tsfy career = one of the most brilliant
ia Rutsh history. nienheim House
being named after his famous victory