Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-10
MARI BORO is DEAD
A Noted Character in English
Society Summoned.
CALLED TO DEATH IN HIS SLEEP,

And Found Rigid When His Valet went to
Wake Him "A Misspent Life Ended
Without Moment for Hepentance-His
Marriage of the Widow HammersIey, of
New York-Brief Review of a Life of
PrOf,igacy with Some Notable Cases in
Which He Was Interested
LONDON, Nov 10.-George Charles Spen-
Ger Churchill, ninth Duke of Marlborough,
was found dead in his room 1T Blenhe;m
palace yesterday morning There was great
excitement in club and society circles when
the fact was made known. Although the
duke had not been in good health for some
time his sudden death caused great sur
prise and shared public interest almost
equally with the American election. He
had of late been giving considerable atten-
ton to his Blenheim estate Since he was
permitted by the court last December to
sell certain outlying portions of the Blelr
helm property for the repayment of money
expended in the improvement of the re-
mainder he had shown desire to place
Blenheim in the best condition possible.
Was tho Ninth of His Line.
lAc utStldN evening ttS usual, ana
when a servant went to his apartment yes
terday morning to assist in mis- toilet he
made no response. The servant approached
the bed, and at once saw that the duke was
dead. physician was promptly sum
moned, and an examination showed that
the duke had been dead for several hours.
The cause of death is said to be heart dis
ease. The duke was the ninth to wear his
historic citle, and is chiefly distinguished
here as having Outdone a long line CT dissi
pated predecessors in extravaganza ana
profiigacy. To Americans the announce
ment of his death will be of interest on &C.
count of his marriage a few years ago to
Mrs Hammersley, of New York
His Widow an Americana.
The newly made widow before she became
a duchess, was the wife of Louis c. Ham
ersley, who died, leaving her fortune of
many millions. After the usual period of
mourning Mrs Hamersley reappeared in
society, and then it was she met the duke
of Marlborough. Owing to the fact that
the duke was a divorced man the wedding
could not be solemniZed in an Episcopal
church, but the religious ceremony was
performed by Baptist clergyman and the
civil ceremony subsequently by Mayor
Hewitt at the city hall in New York The
duke was aprotiigate byinstinct and when
boy his escapades We're such that he was sent
abroad, where he continued his designations
The Lady Mordaunt Scandal.
Returning to England, he married
Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton, sixth
daughter of the first duke of Abercorn.
The lady was one of the most beautiful
women of Great Britain. the duke had
only been married a little over a year when
he became involved in the Lady. MorLlaunt
scandal By the confession of Lady
Mordaunt six of the English nobility, in
GLIDING the late duke then the marquis of
Blandford, and the Prince of Wales, were
involved. The queen continued her efforts
with the husband and brought the prime
minister, the renowned Lord Palmerston,
the leading members of the house of lords
and the heads OF many ancient families in
England to bear upon him.
Wales On the Witness Stand.
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 excitement, as it involved
not only dukes and Sons of dukes, but the
heir to the throne. The great crisis arrived
when the Prince of Wales was put on the
stand as 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 illustrious
members of the English bar got on his
feet and informed the witness that he was
not bound to say anything that would
criminate himself.