Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-19
ADMITS LOVING LORD
Mrs. Stirling on Stand in Her
Divorce Suit.
ACCUSES LONDON BEAUTY
Testifies to Attention of Husband
to Mrs. Anterior.
ALL WERE BOON COMPANIONS
Witness Says She Told Husband Of
FondneSs for Northland-She
Is Washington Girl.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
EDINBURGH. January 1.-The court
of session today took up for hearing
the petition for divorce brought by Clara
Elizabeth Stirling, formerly Miss Tay-
lor of Washington. ID. c.. against her
husband. Alexander Stirling. laird of
Kippendivie. Perthshire. and captain in
the Scots Guards, on the ground of his
misconduct with Mrs. Atherton, the well
known London beauty, who gained CON
ance in West End police court last
month, when Mrs. Strings mother, Mrs
Taylor, was charged with assauting Mrs
Atherton.
Mrs. Taylor had heard that Mrs. Ath-
erton had accusd Mrs. Stirling of the
drinking habit. Mrs. Taylor called at
piece Of her mind. She had given only
d small piece Of it when Mrs. Atherton
rushed her. There was free fight. At
| ter hearing the details the police
magistrate bound over the women 10
keep the peace.
Capt. Stirling has filed a ross-su't
against his wife. He names Lord North
| land, son and heir of the Earl of Ran
| furley, also Il guardsman, as co-reSpon
dent
The case has aroused the greatest in.
terest in society circles, where the prin-
cipals arc well known figures. The court
room was crowded with fashiona bles to-
day.
One Year of Happiness.
Mrs Stirling testified that she and hel
husband lived together most happily un
til last year, when Mrs. Anterior ap
peared on the scene. Mrs. -Atherton. Mrs
Stirling stated. completely won over Capt
Stirling. who thought her a grossly mis-
| Judged woman.
The Strings and Mrs. Atherton visited
Paris together in June. 1898, and stayed
at the same hotel. There the captain
paid Mrs. Atherton so much attention
that Mrs Stirling spoke to him. He ther
admitted that he loved Mrs. Atherton.
The latter when appealed to emphat
ically denied there was anything WTons
in her relations with the captain. Wit
ness believed her
| On cross-examination Mrs. Stirling stat
ed that when she met her husband sh'
was playing small part in musica
comedy. She had fiat, but was no
living under anybodys protection. Sh,
met Lord Northland month before he
marriage.
On further cross-examination Mrs Stir
| ling said she saw Lord Northland fire
| quently after her marriage. He formed
the fourth member of the party that wen
to Paris on one occasion.
She and her husband had a quarrel Ovel
him. She admitted she told her HUSBAND
| she loved Northand.
Daughter of Washington Man.
Mrs. Stirling is the daughter of Charles
Henry Taylor of Washington. She was
considered the handsomest of the Ameri
can show girls in the Earl and the
Girl when it was produced at the Aid.
wych Theater, London.
Stirling. who was then lieutenant IN
the guards, fell in love with her and
| married her
Mrs. Anterior was divorced by her hus
his suit, named Capt. Yarde Butler as
correspondent. After the divorce 1t came
out that the captain had married Denise
Orme. an English stage beauty.
Mrs. Anterior then sued him for breach
of promise Capt. Butler resigned from
the Scots Guards and became a stock
broker, The court gave Mrs Anterior
judgment, with costs, but awarded hel
no damages.
Miss Taylor was at one time clerk ir
the census Office, and lived in Q stree,
between 18th and 14th streets northwest
She was a great friend of Margaret
Walker. also Washington girl, who won
fame member of the .'Florodora
SeXtet.
1t was through hep acquaintance with
Miss Walker that Miss William obtained
a position in musical comedy company
Her last appearance in Washington was
about five years ago when she was here
with a musical comedy called The Wild