Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-13
LADY GORDON IOWA GIRL
Woman Who Has Scandalized
All London Coming Back
to This State
HER SENSATIONAL EscAPADEs
First Husband Was Killed in a Polo
Game at Sioux city-How She Met
and Married an English Nobleman-
Tells Remarkable Story of Her Life
in Court.
HER SENSATIONAL EscAPADEs

Sioux City, March ia cablegram
from London states that Lady Granville
Gordon, whose domestic troubles have
led to her social ostracism, in London,
friends in northwest Iowa. Lady Cor
don was formerly an Iowa girl, having
been raised in LeMars, and having liv-
ed later in Sioux City, where her first
husband was killed.
Lady Gorcans maiden name was
Jennie Humble, and her mother a
widow, kept boarding house in Lee
Mars. Her first matrimonial venture
was with Fred Close, a wealthy young
Englishman who had settled near Lee
Mars. He was attracted by the pretty
daughter of ,he boarding house keeper,
Irritation followed, and the vivacious
and dashing Jennie Won his heart.
Close was killed in polo game at
Sioux City, snd Mrs. Close having in
herited his money, went east. 1t is re-
ported. but not CONFIRMED, that she was
married and divorced in the east.
Then she married Eric Gordon, who
later secured divorce because Of her
relations with his cousin. Lord Gram
vile Gordon. whom she later married.
Lady Granville Gordon is a sister of
William Humble, who comes here fire.
quently and of the late Charles Hum
BILE, who lived here until about two
years ago. She and her two sisters
Were winsome daughters of Mrs. Hum
BILE. an English widow in Pipestone.
MINI. Fred B. Close, James B. Close
and their partner, S. H. Graves. who
came over from England to dispose of
the hundreds OF thousands of acres In
this section owned by the Close broth
ers, married these three girls. They
were in moderate circumstances while
the Closes were rated millionaires.
The Humbles considered the marriages
most fortunate.
Shortly after the marriage of Fred
Close and Miss Humble they came to
Sioux City to reside. They occupied
the John p. Allison residence, now the
Hawkeye Club, and were among the
most fashionable people. Mr.. Close
went in for athletics and played polo
whenever an opportunity offered. The
city remembers the tragedy which end
ed his life. At a game kere. witnessed
by the young wife. Close was thrown
from his horse and injured SO he died
on the ground. The wife was frantic
with grief and her hysterfcal screams
over the PROSTATE figure of her hus-
band were heard for blocks. A mat
tress was brought and i tent erected
over the injured man, but he soon eX-
pired.
The young widow, who was very
popular here, had the siIcerest sympa-
thy of the entire city. She later re-
moved to Chicago, whera her brother
.in-law. William s. Close. still resides.
Later she went to England where her
career seems to have been such as to
scandalize the British court.
She was married in 1914 to Christian
Frederick Gordon, generally known as
Eric Gordon, grandson of the ninth
marquis of Huntly and godson OF his
royal highness Prince Christian. He
was without means and he was then a
wealthy widow. He brought suit for
divorce in 1901, naming lis correspond
ent his cousin. Lord Granville Gordon,
son of the tenth marquis Of Huntly. Mr..
Gordon won his suit and his di-
vorced wife then married Lord Gran
vile Gordon, whose own first wife had
Just died. That marriage. took place at
Dieppe last summer.
The new Lady Granville kept posses
sion of her child, Cicely AIargot Gordon.
beautiful little girl, who is now s.
years old. Old chickering's followed, and
xt>o II, ,Syt chi IN re.
cover his child.
In defending this suit Lady Granville
made the astounding revelation of her
shamelessness.
HE has no right whatever to the
child" she declared in court, for she
is not his She is Lord Granville Cor
dons child. He was my lover before
married Mr.. Gordon, but he could not
marry me because his wife was then
alive. / married Mr.. Gordon with the
full understanding that my relations
with Lord Granville would not be
changed. Mr.. Gordon consented to the
arrangement. My husband and / vir-
tually lived apart. Lord Granville came
to visit us Immediately after we re-
turned from our honeymoon.
Look at the child. Anybody can see
that she is Granville's.'
II really married Eric Gordon to
calm the dreadful jealousy Of the first
Lady Granville Gordon. She would not
give the poor fellow a moments peace.
When / got married she seemed to be
quieted for time, but she soon grew
as cantankerous as ever
1t has been explained that the first
Lady Granville Gordon died of broken
heart on account of her husbands at
tachment to his present wife.
The case of Lord and Lady Granville
Gordon has caused Queen Alexandra
to take public action branding all
women with a past. no matter what
their birth or station. as social out
casts.
The London Gazette, the publication
which records all government decisions,
has printed a notice that Lady Gran
vile Gordon will not be received at
court on account of the disgraceful ex-
posture of her character in the suit her
divorced husband is now bringing
against her to obtain possession of their
child. Her presentation to Victoria in
1891 is cancelled and she can never
again appear at court. The announce
ment is contained in that portion of the
Gazette devoted to court matters and
under the direct supervision
of the king and queen.
1t is positively known that the order
came directly from the queen herself.
Obviously her majesty is the person
chiefly interested in the character of