New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-18
EARL OF STRAFFORDS DEATH.
INQUEST 10 BE HELD To-DAY-BoDY TAKEN
TO wRoTHAM PARK

LondoA May l7-Partculars regarding the death
OF the Earl OF STAFFORD, who was married last De-
cember to Mrs. Samuel j. Colgate. OF New-York.
and who over and killed by the Cambridge
express yesterday evening at Potter's Bar. Hert-
fordshire while returning from Wrotham Park.
near Barnet. his country seat seem to show that
he either tainted and fell In OF the express
swept of the platform by the protection part
of the engine.
The Earl and Countess had been living at No. 3
ST. James's Square for weeks past. the Earl being
engaged .in his duties In connection with the royal
household. He acted Special Equerry-in-Wait-
ing on Queen Victoria's return TO Windsor, and
went his court-y seat yesterday afternoon for
the purpose OF inspecting the arrangements made
for the approaching visit of the Countess and him
self 10 Wrotham Park. The Earl returned 20
Potters Bar station at o'clock TO catch the train
bound for London. The Cambridge express dashed
through the station at $50 p. m. and Few min
utes later the pnanged body OF the Earl was
found on the track about fifty yards outside the
station. The body identified by coronet and
the letter s. marked his apparel Tho family
OF the Earl Immediately Informed. ana the
Countess who attended the Queens drawing-room
at Buckingham Palace yesterday. hurried to Pot
te-s Bar and stayed with the body at the Taiiroad
station hotel all night long In company with the
Earl's nalf-slster. Lady Susan Byng his daughter.
Lady Mary Byng. and the Rev. Francis Edmund
Byng. his brother. The Countess is Frustrated
with grief
The Countess Of STAFFORD has received many mes
sages OF coincidence. among the earliest peihg one
from the Queen expressing Her Majesty's hearueit
sorrow.
The body has been removed to Wrotham PARK
by special permission OF the authorities ana the
friends of the family anxiously awaiting the
inouest tomorrow to unravel the tangled stories
Of alleged eye-witnesses that are current despite
the fact that the railway officials say no one seems
actually to have witnessed the tragedy.
Mr. Clayton, the stationmaster at Potters Bar
asserts that the first intmation OF the mishap was
given by a signalman who. shortly after the ex-
press passed. called out that something was lying
on the tracks and he feared somebody had been
run over
The Earl had recently complained OF pains In the
head and he had been conscious OF the lingering
effects Of the seizure Windsor Castle last winter
1t appears also that ne had contemplated dsposing
Of certain property which, he used to say increased
his mental distress. His friends had recently been
much concerned over his apparently erratic move
The greatest sympathy expressed yesterday
for Lady Stanford by her friends in society in this
city and some Of them rash enough to pre-
dict her early return to this city. There was no
such hint conveyed in the dispatches received by
the members Of Lady Straford's family. There Is
little likelihood. in fact that she will again return
TO New-York, at least to make her home The
rumor Of suicide In connection with the Earl's
death is considered by the relatives OF Lady
STAFFORD in this country be insult to the in
teigence and memory Of Lord STAFFORD. He was
rot TO take his own life, they say. He was
happy and most devoted TO his beautiful wife.