The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-04-25
A NASTY PAIR.
The Duchess of Sutherland's
Unsavory Record Once
More Aired.


Englishman now visiting in St. Louis.
and who is personally acquainted with
the lady, the following interesting
story of the career of the Duchess of
Sutherland was obtained, conditioned
that his name be not published.
The Dowager Duchess of Suther-
land was Mary Caroline, the Youngest
daughter of the late Rev. Mr.. Mitchell,
d. D., principal of Hartford College,
Oxford. She was a very beautiful
girl, and when she arrived at the
proper age married Captain Blair of
the English Army. Some time dur
ing the year 1884 the Duke met Mrs.
Blair and fell In love with her. Their
intimacy continued for several years,
and it is said the Captain was
fully aware of the fact. Mrs.
Blair was, in the course of time, taken
to Trentham, the Dukes home, where
she lived with him, Captain Blair
being sent to Dunraven, the Dukes
Scottish seat. An agreement is said
to have been entered into between the
Duke and the Captain whereby the
latter resigned all claim to the person
Of Mrs. Blair in favor Of the Duke.
All this time the Duke of Sutherland
had a living wife, from whom he was
not divorced.
During the latter part Of 1887, or
early part of 1888, the Duke and
Captain Blair went on a shooting
expedition to Lilleshall in Shropshire,
and in some manner the Captain was
accidentally killed by shot said to
have come from the Dukes gun.
some garrulous people went 50 far as
to say that the Captain was not acct
dentally killed, but the Duke was an
influential man. and then the state
ments were only rumors after all and
the affair quoted down and was for
gotten
In the early part of 1888 the Duke
while living with Mrs. Blair, was
taken very i'll at Tr.ntham. Mrs.
Blair nursed him through his illness.
The Dowager Duches of Sutherland,
who was living apart from her hus-
band at Torquay, a watering place,
called at Trentham to see the Duke
during his illness. She sent him word
that she would come in If he would
order Mrs. Blair away from his bed
side while she was present. The Duke
sent back word that if she wanted to
see him she would have to see him in
the presence of Mrs. Blair. The
DOwager Dutchess returned to Tor
quay without seeing the Duke. Short
" after that incident, the Duke and
Mrs. Blair started to America. While
they were crossing the Atlantic on the
steamship Atruria, the Dukes wife
was taken suddenly i'll and died at
Torquay.
When the Duke and Mrs. Blair ar
rived 1T New York there was cable
message awaiting him from Queen
Victoria, stating that his wife was dead
and urging him to return to England
at once. To this he paid no attention.
proceeding with Mrs. Blair to Florida,
whittier they had started. Three
months later the Duke and Mrs. Blair
were married. They remained in this
country about Is months, when they
returned to England.
Notice was sent to all his tenants
at Trentham that he would arrive
at certain date with his wife. This
was done so the Duke and wife
would have a triumphal entry
such as is accorded Lords upo n
their return from 4 bri,!a! tour. Mt
so in this case, however. When the
Duke and his wife arrived. instead
of crowds of smiling faced tenants and
servants being at thestation they were
welcomed by the station agent alone.
The journey from the station to the
house was rather a sad one. a few
days after the Dukes return old SER
wants and pensioners were dismissed.
Neither the Marquis of Sutherland,
the Dukes sonby the former Duchess,
nor his wife ever called upon or rec ~
nized the Dukes new wife.
The Duchess was refused social
recognition. She charged this to the
Duke, and it was the cause of many
bitter disputes between her and him.
She commenced to intrigue to get the
Duke to make will leaving all his
property except the entailed land to
her. At last he consented and the
will was made. The Duke consented
and the will was made. The Duke
died September23, leaving all moneys,
houses, furniture, horses, ETC., and. in
fact, everything possible, to his wife.
The succeeding Duke, formerly Mar