New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-17
heath THE PENALTY
1la Scotch Lac for Diuorce Court
offence Still UnrepeaLed.
-oosvrs.ht. 1919. by tAs Brss.wOoe Company. ]


ro.r7erly the divorce court led to the gallows in
.ssrd and although the penalty has not bean
1...es for more than a hundred years past. yet
- ,.v Of 1853. enacted by Parliament in Edin-
- and bearing the sign manual OF Mary Queen
!, ccots providing capital punishment for infrac-
-. - she seventh commandment. remains unre-
.,.s n this day on the code OF Scotland. Memo
=. a IFS existence are. however. recalled by the
-. si-fie known beyond the borders Of Scotland
-. a. far as property rights are concerned di-
=. So equivalent TO the death Of the one of the
-. z77o is in default: for the successful petit
.,,nsr. on the decree being pronounced. at once
leeds Il ali legal rights that would have come
: .tr, or her on TIE death OF the guilty party.
- Il. ne add that in Scotland the decree nisi is
,,,srczn There IS = single and final Judgment,
-1,.s becomes effective on the spot
s.ss points are Of timely interest IN connection
i, tbe cause celebre which has been engaging
=, attention OF the divorce courts al Edinburgh
-. several weeks past, and in which Scotch
I'D Lore Northlsnd. eldest and heir OF the
- ~ Ranfurly (chief Of that Scotch House of
,,ox which furnished 20 the Scottish Reformati ton
- nest famous leader in the person OF John
10y, his American actress wife and Mrs. Ather-
.nn sre concerned Lord Northland is likewise
ascendant Of William Penn, the founder Of
,,r1s~,vania while Mrs Afherton belongs, through
h.- r,o-he- 10 the great Scotch House Of Ramsay.
:, which the Earl of Dslhousie IS the chief. and
As- brother is Sir aubrey Dean Paul. the fifth
bsronet Of his lire
IN created such widespread ruin some fifty years
eo hr his 7nisrnsn e cement and wreck Of the great
Ioo5on banking firm Of Snow, Paul & Co.
.nonr his victims being his sister, Mrs.
r--s,cis George Hare. the mother of Augustus
-ss-a the author and diarist Sir John. who up 10
-hs+ time had been of the most popular figures
n London society, county magistrate, deputy
li.r,easnt etc. arrested at his neautiful
mace in surrey on charges OF embezzlement, fTaud
and forgery. Driven TO the station. ne arrived
.asrs lust as ;he London train was leaving. The
sst.ctives thrust him into frst-class carriage,
.,s se-e about 10 follow, when the railroad pOr-
,s-s thinking that TWO rough fellows were intrud-
nr upon their local rnagnate, pulled them back and
A.s Them until the train had gone Sir john, who
-,isht easily therefore have got away. surrendered
himself ST Bow police station some ten days
ls7sr snd was sentenced by Baron Anderson. to-
,sfher with his partners 10 term OF four
5asn vears with hard labor in the penal settlements
~ Australia he underwent ali the horrors OF what
vas known as transportation" that is 20 say,
.h;nneent 10 the kntipodes slow sailing vessels.
eoaped I'D ir iron cages between decks. like wild
h.ssfs rather than human beings He obtained a
rcket-os leave after serving some eight years OF
his term and eventually died in 1855, IN Italy MIS-
Aths-ton-s notoriety in connection with the STIR
ing divorce case at Edinburgh serves to recall
this spiso6e which created great sensation
throughout Great Britain little over fifty years
sEo Mrs Atherton's brother, Sir Aubrey Paul is
= frequent visitor to this country, and is usually
accompanied By his wife daughter OF tie famous
Polish vfolinist. VfeniaTski-