The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-26
WAN TED: HEIR To A
BARONY; HIDING
IN AMERICA
STRANGE ROMANCE REVEALED
BY DEATH OF LORD PETRs.
LEAVING TITLE TO LOST
BROTHER.

LONDON, June 2..--Somewhere In
the United States. working for liv'
ing Is the much wanted heir OF one
OF the Oldest and richest baronies In
England
Lord Petre, fourteenth baron OF his
line. died on Tuesday In ancient Thor
don hall In Essex. the seat or the lam
lily for centuries. Baron Petre left
| uaughrer. eight years old. but no heir,
so the title and estates are inherited
by his lordship's brother. the Honor
able Philip Petre. who married ;, q
daughter OF the late Mrs. Cavendish
Taylor. once famous American
hostess in London. The family law
yers have begun search for the heir
who is suspected to be In the United
States earning living in some hum
| BILE capacity.
There is a question whether the heir
will claim his title. as his distressed
wife, who has q young daughter, has
not heard from her husband in two
years.
| Results Of an indiseretion.
Several years ago the Honorable
| Philip, who has unexpectedly come
| into the title and estates OF the bxi'-
ony. got into difficulties by
passing check FOO which
| IL was found there were no
funds in the bank TO meet il. The re.
suits were serious 10 the Honorable
Philip. who after paying the penalty
OF his error, disappeared from view.
He Stunned society, declined to accept
any assistance from his family and
wandered about London penniless. Of
ten sleeping on the benches OF the
Embankment gardens. He finally dis
! appeared altogether and his family
suspected that he went to the United
States TO begin life anew.
The family lawyers do not know
that he Is alive. but the Official an
nouncement has been made that he Is
now Lord Petre. succeeding TO the
| title and rich estates or his elder
brother. Philips friends always as
serted that his fndtscretfon DID not
merit so harsh a treatment and that
when he drew the check he was I'M
aware that there was no money In
| the bank 10 meet H. The Petres are
one OF the Oldest families In England.
With the Duke OF Norfolk the exist
ing Lord Petre always shares the dis.
| tinction of being the secular head Of
the Catholic church in England. A
lord Petre has always been eminent
in English history since the Petre
family was founded by William Petre,
secretary OF state. who although a
Catholic, served Henry the Eighth.
The rich estates In Essex were plum
dered from the monasteries by Henry
the Eighth. but the original Sir Will
lam would not accept them until his
possession was confirmed by a papal
bull. which thus prevented the royalist
and papal parties from retaining the
estates. In GLADSTONE hall. Essex, an
other splendid mansion OF the Petre
family. is the Audley court Of Miss
| Braddon's famous novel, and from II
Miss Braddon drew her inspiration for
the scenes of Lady Audley's Secret"
Leading Catholic Family.
The Petres have always been de-
vout Catholics and the predecessor
peer who died on Tuesday was a do
nestle prelate OF the vatican. Two
OF his sisters took the veil, while
another became a sister of charity in
London. Now the heir of this splendid
history and valuable estates is badly
wanted. Some OF his friends question
whether he will shake of his Ameri-
can incognito and return TO England.
There was royal confirmation at
Ascot this week OF the news exclu-
sively announced in this paper
some time ago that Prince Arthur OF
| Connaught was engaged TO the beau
tiful Lady Marjorie Manners. daugh-
ter OF the Duke and Duchess OF Rut-
land. Lady Marjorie was the only
woman invited TO share the royal box
at the opening day OF Ascot with the
king, queen and other members of
the royal family Her presence Is ac-
cepted as proof OF the kings unquali-
| fed approval of and consent to her
ladyship's engagement TO an English
prince 1t IL happy ending TO a
royal romance OF which her hdyship
has been the heroine for a couple OF
years.
Lady Marjorie looked radiantly
beautiful. wearing white toilet de
sole with big black Romney hat
ruched with blue velvet. Her lady
ship Is spending the week at Ascot
/ a 80 D., o.