Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-03
(Copyright. Associated press.A

Copyright. Associated Press.)
LONDON, June 2.-One of the most
remarkable. though posthumous, ex-
posures of the -looseness of English
life in high places came up this week.
when Mrs. Brinkworth sued the es-
tate of the late William Beckett, a for
mer member of Parliament, for con
tinued support of herself and her al
legged children. Mr.. Beckett was head
of n of the wealthiest private bank
ing firms in England. and eminently
respected in Parliament and in so
ciety. 1t now transpires that Mrs.
Brinkworth lived as his mistress for
many years and that the couple amused
themselves by buying children which
they passed off as their own, as Beck
EFT wished to use the children + o bluff
his W family into consenting to the
payment of large sums to his mis-
tress. She accumulated seven children
SO adeptly that the judge remarked:
You seem to have bought babies as
some people buy puppies" When the
plaintiff referred to a pair of cobs she
owned, the judge interrupted, saying:
Everything in this remarkable case
seems to have gone by pairs. A pair of
twins. A pair of lovers. A pair OF
houses, I'M now a pair of cobs."
Mrs. BrinKworth IA non-suited and
criminal proceedings may be brought
against her for trying to pass off the
children as Beckett's.
The executor o. the estate sued Mr..
Ernest Beckett, son of the man who
lived such a double life. He is also
a member of Parliament and owns n
Of the finest houses in Piccadilly, where
The Prince of Wales.
is often entertained. He married a
fewsyears ago Mrs. Tracy Lee, a niece
of the late w. H. Hurlbutt, since dead.
Popular opinion has proclaimed the
advent of victory and whatever hap
pens henceforth in South Africa the
interest of the British public will be
but little, unless the event is endorsed
by a peculiarly personal element. The
nation has made up its mind that the
war is over, that the prestige of British
arms is restored, that President Kru-
ger is vanquished, that priceless ter
ritory has been annexed, that human-
ity has not been staggered, and that,
led by that little Sir Galahad, "Bobs,'
Great Britain's army has fulfilled the
most optimistic expectations. 1t is
scarcely surprising in view of the be-
wildering rapidity of Lord Roberts's
progress during the past week, that the
anxiety attendant OF the initial re-
verse of the war is completely forgot
ten in the iubilation of to-day, or that
the troubles still ahead of the army
in South Africa scarcely receive a
passing thought. Nevertheless, among
the few more serious-minded who
have intimate knowledge of the Beers
and the plans of the war office there
exist grave apprehensions of develop
ments in the near future. In the sys-
tematic retreat of the Beers they see
the possibility of long drawn-out guer-
rilla fighting, tricks into Rhodesia, in
ternal
due to bandits. and a thousand and
one lawless elements that evolve them
selves from a heterogeneous army af-
ter it ceases to become an organized
body. Some of the most acute au-
thorities on South African matters say
Major General Frederick Carrington's
work in Rhodesia may only begin
when Lord Roberts finishes. Such spec
ulation, however, can only be left for
time to prove and this war, so far,
has abounded in surprises which have
completely upset the surmises of those
best fitted to express opinions. Prob
ably the most reasonable forecast Of
immediate developments in the Trans
vaal, can be gained by reviewing the
events in the Free State, OF Orange
River Colony. There, though the
country is formally annexed and is
subjected to a winow1ng process by a
long line of British troops, virile oppo-
sition still exists. The preponderance
of numbers Is bound to eventually re-
duce the inhabitants TO subsection and
so it will be, probably, with the Trans
vaal, the occupation of Pretoria and
johannesburg being followed by opera
lions similar TO those uninteresting
movements now undertaken by Gen
erals Rumble and Brabant in the Or
ange River Colony.
TIC pei " SldbuS VI 1CoA0CIL
ger since he left the capital is Great
ing some discussion. A member Of the
Associated Press learns that Lord Sal
isbury will consider him to be presi-
dent of the South African republic I'M
til Lord Roberts is ready to annex that
territory. Hence, wherever President
Kruger may be, even if he goes into
Portuguese territory, and any commu-
~nications which he might make to the
British or other governments looking
to a cessation of hostilities, would re-
ceive official recognition and be an
swered, though it is safe to say Lord
Salisbury would merely refer President
Kruger to Lord Roberts.
some such Message
from "Oom Paul" is now expected at
the foreign Office. II the indicated line
Of procedure in answering 1t is carried
out 1t can result in nothing. unless
President Kruger is willing To assist
Lord Roberts in persuading the people
to lay down their arms. On one thing
the British government IL determined,
l. g.: President Kruger cannot stay in