New-York tribune., 1901-03-07

PROCEEDINGS IN BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT
BY AN AMERICAN GIRL.

Liverpool. March s,-On the arrival here to-day
Of the White Star Line steamer Oceanic. from
New-York February q. the Duke of Manchester.
who with his bride passenger on board
was served with a writ for an alleged breach of
promise at the instance OF Portia Knight of
London.
London. March 6.-The Duke OF Manchester saws
he was not served with a writ. and does not know
anything about the reported suit for breach of
promise.
No one met the Duke and Duchess OF Manchester
on their arrival at Euston Station London. The
Duchess looked extremely well and very pretty
The Duke seemed rather worried. When asked by
representative OF The Associated Press II IT were
true that he had been served with writ he re-
Piled:
It is quite untrue, know nothing about the suit
America.
Come along" said the Duchess. And the couple
jumped into a cab and drove off. They had In
tended to land at Queenstown and to proceed to
their Irish home. But the storm prevented and
therefore they decided to come 10 London. which
they will shortly leave for Ireland.
Miss Porta knight is American twenty-three
or twenty-four years old. She was on the stage
in New-York for a short time. and has been living
privately in London for a year. She referred
representative OF The Associated Press to her law
yers. The writ has been for time. she
said. and she did not know whether 1t would be
served in America or England Miss Knight was
glad TO hear that it had been served in Liverpool
Il regret that this affair has become public. she
said. Il thought II would all be done In camera.
I DO hope IL will be taken up by the American
newspapers. I have brought the suit not because
I desired publicity, but because I felt in duty
bound all my friends here in England For their
sake, we'll my own. have every wish that
the proceedings should be private as possible.
Il only met the Duke OF Manchester since I
came TO England year ago, but really must
refer you TO my solcitors:
they declined 10 give any details or TO do more than
10 confirm the report that Miss Knight had begun
action.
most interesting of the marriages between Amer
lean heiresses ard representatives of the British
peerase had Its inception shortly after the Duke
OF Manchester suddenly made Miss thinner
duchess. Miss knights allegations are not
yet obtainable. bHt II Is Evident that she is in
earnest and that the suit was brought without any
idea OF gaining publicity she is about the same
age as the Duke OF Manchester, possibly rife
older. Their acquaintance began. representative
of The Associated Press is Informed, when Miss
don where the duke frequently visited. The en-
ployes of the mansions say the acquaintance
and that the visits continued until only about six
months ago. when the duke no longer called there
and Miss knight took a fiat elsewhere She is now
living in London amid friends of position and
Unlike the duchess Miss Knight is pronounced
brunette. with an olive complexion
San Francisco. March (SpeciaD-Miss Portia
knight. who has brought breach OF promise suit
against the Duke of Manchester is an Oakland
girl. who four years ago made her dramatic debut
under Frederick Warde at Tacoma, Wash One Of
her classmates here was Gertrude Elliott, sister of
Maxine Elliott
1t was learned last night that Miss knight had
lived for some time with Mrs. Grifing at No. Il
West Eighteenth-st.. this city. About year ago
she left Mrs Griffings and it is believed went TO
Engand. Nothing has been heard from her here
since then so far as could be learned