The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-05
y. 80 - IS 90 ~ "a - "a -

Lord Ruthvcn, E1tricntcd From Finnn-
cinl DiH1cnltles, Descended From
I Peer WHO WINS Implicated In
Murder Of Hixzio.
ORD RUrIIvTJN has at length ef :
fected a compromise with the
4 trustees Of the marriage settle.
- ment OF his eldest son, tho mas
ter OF Ruthver, and the war
rant Which had been issued by the
charges Of contempt Of Court i,as been ZEN
name al ?, by the p. should not Be pro-
cial difficulties some years ago, and
secured the permission OF his eldest
son 70 sell one OF the Scotch estates
of Ruihyen gave ~ sensent 70 4 sale,
lied. on the Understanding TINT his
father should have something over
lave the reminder, TO Represent his
found that his 100000 would not be
suf ,as;ietn to extricate him from his
remaining 100000. agreeing In return
to transfer to him.. or rather to the
trustees of his marriage settlement his
1 ~ ~" VII SotaSCb al tSOuAly Wv GA
ford, Ireland.
His son consented to this. but the
old lord. who has Just celebrated his
| seventeen birthday, and who is a vet
eran Of the Indian Nfutiny, of the Cri-
mean War and OF the Abyssinian CAM
render the Harperstown place. The
trustees of the master of Rnthven were
In consequence forced TO apply to the
Scotch courts t. Insist on tho eAecu--
Ruthyen declining 70 comply with the
| decision Of the Edinburgh tribunals,
a warrant was issued for his nrros..
Lord Ruthven bears title familiar
TO all the students OF Scottish history.
The third Lord Ruthven was the prin-
cipal actor in the murder OF Rizzlo.
the troubador. favorite OF Mary Queen
OF Scots, in the palace OF Hollywood. His
successor. the fourth lord. was the
hero Of the historic raid OF Ruthven.
OF her SOP. King James VI. while this
lords SON in turn. was killed In thu.
so-called Gowrie conspiracy. which had
for its aim the assassination OF this
same King James. The Ruthvens take
their narne from the Castle Of Ruthven.
molished In the Eighteenth century,
and the only thing to mark Its site Is
the knoll called the Gallows HILL on
which q permanent gallows was main
ldIUe u Oy Inc lOTOS OIL nutUSen LIS
swinging into eternity Of those who
had incurred their displeasure.
The Lord Ruthven of to-day and his
four soldier sons have all borne them
selves so bravely in battle. the second
son winning the Victoria cross In tho
service order in South Africa, that 1t
is to be regretted that their claim
to the barony OF Ruthven should be
so exceedingly questionable. that IL 1t
We're an English instead OF Scotch
dignity. the head of the family would
committee of privileges of the House
OF Lords to. take his seat In the upper
chamber OF the National Legislature
lat Westminster. The Lords of Ruth
ven of the Mary Queen OF Scots epoch
forfeited all their honors in connection
against James VI, of Scotland and
James I. of England Later. Thomas
Ruthven. great-great-gr OF the
second peer of the early Stuart era, is
Ruthyen of Freeland. Apparently this
dignity was created by Oliver, Crom :
we'll: for IT'S date is given as 1851.
that is to say. shortly after the execu-
tion Of Charles l.. and fully nine years
before Charles II. was restored to the
throne.
Now although 1851 is given as the
exact date OF the patent liz unknown.
There is no official record OF It's exist
ence, either at Edinburgh or anywhere
else;g It was never registered as re-
land as, moreover. there is no .'docQuet''
or sign manual thereof. its contents
are wholly unknown.
We have the word Of the present
Ruthvens that the original document
was In existence for nearly 100 years.
and that 1T was destroyed in fire
which took place at Freeland in 1850.
arise, as to why II it was In existence
for ninety-nine years. and In tho pos
session OF the family. no copy thereof
should ever have been made. or any,
steps taken to register It,
Norris this all. David. the only son
Lord Rthven OF Freeland. died without
male issue. as one OF the lords Of the
treasury OF William ILL.,, leaving his
estates to the youngest Of his sisters.
Jean. On her death without issue. the
Sir William Cunningham Neither.
Jean Ruthven nor Sir William Cum
CHAM dreamt OF putting forward any
claim to the barony OF RuthYen. which
In "crawford's Peerage Of scotland.'
at Edinburgh in 1716,. is described as
having become extinct. Sir. William
Cunningham also died without issue.
and then the estates went to- Isabel
Ruthven. niece Of David, Lord Ruth !
ven. and Of his sister Jean. She mar
RED Colonel James Johnston, Of
Graitney, and according to Lord Ha lies,
;,'ini a TESTING way applied for sum
mons to the coronation Of King George
, IL, as heiress not only OF the Ruthven
estates but also OF the Cropwellian
barony OF Ruthven. She received the
Invitation to the coronation, and a&let-
ter is in existence in which she de-
clares that this was her patent. and
that she would preserve It as such IN
her charter chest. ).
Now in the irst place, there Is moth
Ing whatsoe to show that C5omwell
in.I1651, nor is there any evidence
whatsoever to- demonstrate that this
we'll. was Unbeatable through the fe-
male line. On the contrary: there Is
much in favor Of the belief that the
Ibarony, such as It was, was limited
to heirs ma le. and that: as asserted by
| -othera standard works of. the first two