Evening journal., 1902-01-14
DUKE SETTLES
With ACTRESS
MancheSter'S ESCapade Cost
Him Just $4,000
MISS KNIGHT A DELAWAREAN
Became Acquainted With Ills Grace
Through an American News.
paper Man

The breach of promise suit brought by
Miss Portia Knight the American ac-
tress, against the Duke Of Manchester
has been settled out of the London court.
the Duke paying Miss Knight 1000
(about $4,000 and defraying the costs Of
the legal proceedings
An agreement was reached Saturday.
and the final papers will be signed to-
morrow, when the money will be paid.
The lawyers in the case say that moth
ing in the nature of grave scandal
would have developed had the suit come
TO trial, but unpleasant notoriety would
have attended the reading Of love letters.
LOVE, CASH AND LAWSUITS
The suit of Miss Portia Knight against
the Duke of Manchester was entered last
March She asked $4,000 (about S25.OOO)
as a salye for her wounded heart. Unon
the arrival of the Duke in England with
his bride, formerly Miss Helene thinner
man. of Cincinnati, papers in the suit
were served upon him. II was. of course.
'deucedly awkward, " but the young sprig
of nobility put on bold front and said.
ut is mere game Of bluff. OF course
she desires money. but everyone knows
haven't any. The only thing she can do
IS TO join the band OF hope Of my other
creditors
The same band Of hope looked with
longing on Eugene Zimmerman. the
Dukes father-in-law. a wealthy railroad
man. Soon afterward Manchester show
ed unmistakable signs Of prosperity.
First he made settlement with his
creditors, and now he has settled with
Miss Knight
Miss Knight is a Delaware girl She
Is said TO bc "a member of the Knight
family Of Kent county, and To have spent
part of her early girlhood there before
the removal Of her parents TO the West
The family went TO live in Baker City.
< Ore. The future actress father, Colonel
~ .is.-lSnight. VISIT prominent lawyer
and man OF wealth. But the collapse of
the Denver boom left Colonel knight
poor Miss Porta knight. face to face
with realities, undertook course Of dra-
matte study in San Francisco. She be-
came member OF Frederick Warie
company and later went 10 London.
She was hampered by "a serious acct
dent that befell her in London. At a din
ner given al the Hotel Cecil she slipped
and falling down flight of steps, injured
her spine For many weeks She was un
able to leave her room.
" hilc convalescent Miss Knight met
the Duke Of Manchester. They had
common friend, il happened. an American
newspaper man. And the nobleman hap
pened ait that time TO be a newspaper
correspondent himself.
The acquaintance of the two progress
ed rapidly. Later while at Oxford with
the Duke. she tainted, was hurriedly
taken to London, and another prolonged
illness followed For weeks Manchester
was in constant attendance upon her.
Friends declare that it was during this
illness that the betrOthal which Miss
knight now alleges occurred. For the
Duke, they say, was much in love.
The Duke next planned to star Miss
Knight professionally. He secured
play, retained the services Of a business
manager and negotiated for the actress
appearance at a London theatre. Then
II was that the strangest episode in the
history of the Manchester Knight story
occurred. In the same week in which
she was to have made her London debut
Miss Knight vanished from her lodgings
No trace of her could be found. Man
chester engaged the services OF detec-
tives. Together they searched London
for days. The actress was at length
found in Q convent connected with the
Brempton Oratory, which she had en-
tered preparatory to taking the veil.
Letters from the Duke beseeching Miss
Knight TO grant him an interview
brought no response. I'm one of them il is
alleged he declared he would commit sui
eide unless she left the convent. Even
that failed of a reply. At length by main
force-so the story runs Manchester
made his way into the convent and sue
ceeded in inducing Miss Knight to return
with him to the world.
The plan TO star the actress was not
resumed. According to Miss knights
story Manchester persuaded her TO give
up the idea of returning to the stage. at
tie same time asking her 10 become his
wife. He arranged with Father Gordon
at the Brompton Oratory-at least. SO
says Miss Knight-to marry them.
And now it was the Duke who played
the disappearing act. simultaneously
from Paris came the news Of his engage
ment TO Miss Zimmerman. II was
blow to Miss Portia. hut she acted
promptly. The breach Of promise suit
followed. and now after nearly year it
is settled
Annie F Conely Leaves