The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-09-02
CENTER OF MANY SENSATIONS
The Duchess of Sutherland, Who Has
just Lost Her Diamonds.

Just Lost Her Diamonds.
In the course Of her somewhat
stormy career the duchess Of Suther-
land has been the leading figure in MI
merous sensations of n kind or an
other. At present she Is bewailing the
loss of $3.50, 900 worth of jewels, stolen
from her while she was enroute from
Paris to London. This much-begos-
siped woman was born about fifty-five
years ago, the youngest daughter Of
Rev. DR.. Richard Mitchell, principal Of
Hartford college, London. While a
mere girl she married Captain Arthur
Blair, who had charge of the duke Of
S~utherland's deer forests. With him
she lived in apparent happiness for a
number of years. The captain was
killed by the accidental discharge of a
gun in the dukes hands while the pair
were hunting. His grace naturally
took an interest in the widow. but
when his attentions became pronounc-
ed the duchess and her family protest
ed vigorously. Finding that the duke
would not listen to her. she and her
children left Trenham, the magnificent
country seat of the family in Stafford
shire, and left his grace and Mrs. Blair
together. In 1885 the duke was taken
very i'll and the buxom widow nursed
him asiduously. Only when physicians
limited that the duke was in mortal
danger would his wife come to see him.
He recovered. and then his wife and
children made a desperate effort to
drive the intruder away. They were
unsuccessful and again left the devot-
ed pair to themselves.
Almost Immediately after this scan
dial the duke and Mrs. Blair sailed for
this country in a splendid yacht, but
ugly stories followed them, and even
New York society closed its doors. The
duke purchased a handsome property
in Florida. where he and Mrs. Blair
went to live. While they were there
the duchess died and In less than four
months Mrs. Blair became the duchess
of Sutherland. In September, 1892,
the duke died at his ancestral home,
leaving to his widow as much of his
property as was not covered by entail,
also giving her during life the use OF
the family jewels-the very diamonds
which form part of the stolen jewelry.
The new duke contested the will in
court on the ground that his step
mother had prejudiced her late hus-
bands mind against his children in or
der to gain possession of his property.
During the progress of the trial the
duchess was arrested for burning an
important document which she had re-
ceived judicial permission to inspect.
On April Is, 1893, she was condemned
to six weeks Imprisonment in Hollo-
way Jail for this fragrant contempt Of
court. On June 7, 1894. the long
drawn suit was settled out of court by
a compromise between the plaintiff
and defendant. This gave the dowager
duchess 49, 00,0 900, besides an annuity
of $25, 900. In consideration of these
amounts she renowned all title to the
residue of the estate in favor of the
duke, who thus came into undisputed
possession of a fortune Of s. 1900, 900.
Since then the energetic woman has
secured a third husband in the person
of Sir Albert Kaye Rollitt, conserva-
tive member of parliament for one Of
the London divisions, whom she mar
ried two years ago.