The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-23
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
All ENGLAND AGHAsT OYER THE
SPECTACLE OF A DUCHESS IN JAIL.

The Dowager Duehess or Switzerland ~
Most Luxuriousiy Prisoned-The Paper
She burned Related to the Tragic Death
Of Her First Observation-Disclosures Speech
m Friday Regarded ss tho Greatest OF
III. L,re-The mome lsuie nan VIII
soon GO 20 Its Death In the House OF
Iord.-Benef That In the Esd n WIN Be
the Lords Who suner-Di-covery OF the
Gospel OF st Peter-The Frttssce Re
ccivcd by Queen victoris's Farm Labor
sr$-King Rumbert's Silver Wedding 10
Mott Nationsl charlottesville Anserican
Line aud the Sailors and Firemen's Uaion.
LONDON. Feb. 22-Tho imprisonment OF .
dovager Duches OF the realm In q oom-
mon Jail is . spectacle SO strange to
tho eyes OF tho Englishmsn Of this gen
sration that people OF high and low
degree are discussing It to-day through
cut the land. The current opinion seems to
DO that she 10 paying q rather severe but just
penalty for q bit Of wilful defiance OF authority
not unnatural in o woman OF her position.
There is no public suspicion yet Of the
startling story which lies back Of the dramatic
little episode By which the Dowager Duchess
Of Sutherland dumiounded the lawyers last
week. The fact IL that IL tho contents Of that
1CrAp OF pHpoT WuICu tuo 1'uChobb ShEcW INV
the burning GOALS before the eyes OF the as
sembled lawyers were made public they would
make tho most tremendous sensation in the
history Of modern English society. ! give the
facts with some reservations
1t Is quite true. as intimated by the Judge
when committing the Duchess to jail. that the
destruction OF the document was deliberately
planned by her. She risked much in resort
ing to the high-bsnded expedient to gain her
object. but she would willingly have suffered
ten times the penalty rather than fail. She has
failed in effect. however. for without her
knowledge the Dukes papers. including one
she would have sacrificed almost life itself to
keep from mortal eyes. had been previously
examined by certain lawyers. The contents
are known even to the Duohess's opponents In
tho contest OF the Dukes will
The paper was, In o word. . statement
signed by the Duchess before her marriage to
the Duke. setting forth what she knew about
the death Of her first husband. Lieut. Blair. It
would not be proper at present to mako public
the details OF that statement Mrs Blair
made the acquaintance Of the Duke Of Suth-
srland while the first Duchess and her W
husband were living. She was for soms time
q guest in the Dukes household. She was
there a part Of the time during the interval Of
less than four months after the death
OF the Duchess and before her mar
rage to the Duh in America. One day
the dead body OF her husband. Lieut..
Blair. was found in the Dukes grounds. He
had been shot dead. The local Coroner and o
Jury Of the Dukes retainers made q brief In
vcstIgation and returned . verdict Of suicide.
The Duke Of Sutherland was not q man Of
good morals. but 1t is not suspected that he
was In any way concerned In the murder OF
Lieut.. Blair. 1t should also be said that the
present Dowager Duchess did not IRE the shot
which made her q widow. The Duke. however.
Is q prscaution against possible revelstions.
required Mira Blair before their marriage to
Draw UP and sign the paper which she 50
dramatically destroyed last week
The question now 10 whether the knowledge
1.-THE contents Of that document viii lead to .
compromise Of tho contest over the will II
not. the startling facts which I have held back
will probably come ont In court with conse-
auonoes which can hardly be guessed. It IL
probably knowledge OF the fact that the secret
ofthe mysterious bit Of burned paper is known
to her enemies rather than dread Of so-oalled
imprisonment which has 30 Frustrated the
Dowagsr Duchess in the past few days.
There is nothing in the circumstances Of her
jail life to wear upon her. Her cell" is q
large parlor. Two vans full Of the finest fur
niture drove to the Jail some hours before the
pAioouoE oIElv0us anu y IhT80 lOECo VI mou
were at work all day yesterday fitting up the
room as o most sumptuous boudoir. Tapes
tries cover the walls. thick rug the floor. and
the principal furniture 10 In blue plush. The
bestcatersrs In London will supply everything
that the lady's appetite Graves. All the prison
rules will be relaxed. and the prisoner may re-
csive her friends and enjoy literature and
other luxuries without stint Physicians. too.
will be In constant attendance. and 1t would
not be surprising II she should be able to en-
Joy an occasional drive. II the doctors pre-
scribe 1t and the prison managers are not
afraid OF q too great scandal
London is torn to-day By conflicting political
emotions. Last nights great home rule tri-
umph In the House has inspirited tho Lbe-
rails wonderfully. The Tories are rejoicing
with equal vim over the demonstration BY the
visiting Irish Unionista Friends and foes
alike are marvelling over the magnificent
speech with which Mr.. Gladstone brought the
debate on the second reading OF the Home
hule bill to q close. and over tho matchless
Sequence OF its delivery. 1t was q far aner
Effort thun the speech with which he intro
duced the bill q fow weeks ago. 1t is. indeed.
pronounced BY competent opinion to be the
greatest utterance OF Mr.. Gladstons's life both
In matter and in manner. The moment he
took the hoor the great and Grand Old Man
~ ~ 'DSA thut ING CLIMAX OF his lie
had come. His years dropped from him like a
CLOAK. His voice was like . deep-tonsd bell,
elear and clarion. Not for a moment did It
IAN MIN during the hour that he held the
house under the absolute spell Of his clio.
euohee' NOT single oratoricAI arrow was ali.
sSnt from his culver. and he used them All.
WIZ SATIRE invsctive. logic. pleading. scorn,
sno remuneration followed each other in over
wnslm'hg succession. Mr.. Gladstone in ora.
soricai passion Is magnificent and terrible
Last night he was vengeance incarnate. words
mat were blows fell upon his enemies with a
fury that made the great gladiator seem som.'
ching more than u human antagonist.
Al the Same time 1t was a scene and n sn..,,
which mako 1t more evident than any prav,on.
event In his career that Mr.. Gladstone at the
present m embodles greater power H.
personal leadership than any man OF his tIms.
The final passage OF the Home Rule bill NV
tho Commons now seems to be in sight. The
committee stage may be vexatious and slow
but the bill will go through within a reasona.