New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-15
THAT LADY FREEMASON
DOrerails Court, Where She Vas
Initiated, Changes Hands.

ga lady Doneraile. who has Just died, at the
= >, nearly eighty. al Nice was brought home 70
ts...rsile Court IN County Cork. and it was there
-, her funeral took place Doneraie Court had
-, her home since her marriage, hfty-seven years
-, and when her husband succumbed there in
- - bvdrophobia resulting from the bite OF a
-. sox-a fate identical with that which overlook
-, s,,,rth Duke OF Richmond when Governor Cen
-. - canada in the early part OF last century
-, retained possession Of the place, although her
,,,,s's peerages passed TO distant relatives.
80 7 understand that DoneTaie Court, which
a.. oent,-ies has bsen the ancestral home OF the
- Te1er family Will pass out Of its posses
-, and become the property OF the late Lady
.,-.-oile's son-in-law and daughter, Lord and
- Castletovn who have lived with her there
...r since their marriage
"-1-o-sile court IS familiar 20 Freemasons IN all
=. - che world as the OF the episode which
- - she initiation in the order OF the only
-, ,,bo has eyer been admitted to membership
!. -. craft The lady IN question was the Hon.
,-u,obe,b St Leger daughter Of the hrst Niscount
-,.,.-sile But there is no truth in the story &C
z,-g ~ which she concealed herself in one OF
.Sosa huge tinlepieces popularity known as grand
s.hs-s, clocks" What really took place was this
=, ,tis version is given the authority OF the
-. Te6v Doneraile and OF her son-in-iaW, l@ord
~..,lesown: It seems that the first LORD Doherale'
-, mas m enthusiastic Mason and master or ms
- mas wont 10 hold lodge meetings from time
-. at Doneraile Court using large room on
-. ryolnd floor Of the house for the purpose. Al
.,,nr this room was a small library. AT the time
-, she incident occurred. some alterations were
=, ,-oeress. which necessitated the removal OF me
DsuinR 81 the larger room The bricks oehind
-. had been temporarily replaced without mortar
- -,o.,,,on they were ultimately to occupy. On
80. nar4ic,llar afternoon Miss st. Leger had been
.s,1q n the library. and. the light OF the winter
aesrnoon having failed, fell asleep. The sound OF
,ooss IN the next room restored her 10 conscious
h gaNEy
Tlsced bricks OF the dividing wall and from the
IT,. which nenetrated through the intersuces she
rsaizsd that one OF those Masonic meetings WINCH
sad 80 greatly excited her curiosity was taxing
plaee IN the adjoining apartment II natuFalg loA-
lowed that she quietly removed one or more Oh lle
loose bricks without attracting any houoe' anu ~S
thus enabled 20 watch the proceedings OF the lOose
and to hear what was going on.
For some time her interest in what was trans
hiring proved sufficiently powerful 70 hoio heI
spslbound But suddenly she became a"aAe 10
the consequences OF her indiscretion, ana deter
mined 20 make her escape. Unfortunately me
a,r ~ The library and the door OF the room where
tie meeting was being held adjoined one another
.,5 ,rben she emerged she almost fell into the
arms OF the tier: that is 10 say. the funcuonarE
-rho with drawn sword. posted at the en-
,-anos 70 prevent intrusion. On catching sight OF
~, she cave loud shrek and tainted dead away.
rr5s tier happened TO be the old family butler. and
eainR aware OF the condition OF the wall between
she library and the room where the lodge meeting
vas being held. az once realized what had oc-
CURED Not knowing what TO do. he summoned
Lord DoneTaile
Aoo,-5,,r "a Colonel Alccck Stawell the grand
= - .ha roman gn question the members of the
lodge were nj first disposed 20 put her I" death
for having thus surprised their secrets, ana were
only deferred therefrom 10y Lord Donerailer VINO
as master absolutely refused 70 sacrifice his daugh-
ter But the late Lady Doneraile and LORD Casue-
town secuted this story, pointing out that among
che members OF the lodge present the occasion
we're several of the girls brothers and other rela-
lives. who Masonry OF Masonry. would never
have been party 10 her murder.