The sun., 1909-01-24
mrs. ATHERTON ADISTURBER
HER NAME HAS MADE THE
STIRLING CASE FAMOUS.
known ss Most Beautiful Woman In Eng
land, Society Looks to Her for senss.
tions-H Husband Divorced Her--she
Failed In suit Against Ysrde Butler.
.sp.etoI caDl, p.,poteh,, 10 Tnr sun.

Husband Divorced Her--shs
Failed In suit Against Ysrde Butler
Special Cable Ds,pafehss 10 TIE SUN.
Lon DON. Jan. 23-Unquestionably the
central social figure Of the week has
been Mrs. Atherton. IL IL entirely due
TO her connection with the Stirling divorce
case that the suit Is a cause celebre.
1t Is reported In tho newspapers with
length and freedom accorded 20 such
cases in the English press alone. But for
Mrs. Atherton the case would attract
characters have no such interest for tho
public. Mrs. Atherton. however, is not
only known as the most beautiful woman
in En- gland. but when she Is concerned the
chance Of piquant items concerning
prominent persons coming to light keeps
society agog
In any gathering Mrs. Atherton always
would be conspicuous by her beauty.
Imagine a woman with a wealth of chest
nut hair, features almost perfect but not
too severe, complexion radiant with
health. hands exquisite as few women
possess and the figure OF modern divin-
ity. Then too much would not he said.
Even women who dislike her confess her
personal charm. while there ia not man
who ever met her that she has not favor
ably impressed,
or commanding intellectual bent -
cloaks the determination Of her character
beneath q manner Of exceptional attrao-
tiveness. She is the third daughter of Sir
Edward Dean Paul and sister of the
present baronet. She married in 1892
Col. Atherton. commanding the Twelfth
Lancers. one Of the finest soldiers in the
British army. She created a personal
ensaton when she went to South Africa
as one Of Sir Frederick Treves's plague
women. bent on nursing wounded officers.
IL was In South Africa and on the re-
turn voyage that a Duke. one Of the
youngest and wealthiest of British peers,
was ready to cast his coronet and his
gold at her feet. Society looked eagerly
for a divorce suit. which was avoided
only by the most powerful Intervention.
The young Dukes fancee cancelled the
enga cement, which, however. the efforts
of her mother and family succeeded in
renewing
Col. Atherton finally divorced her in
1905. the Hon Yarde Buller being named
as correspondent. The names of many
members of the peerage were banded
about and one Of them was fully expected
TO marry her. Yarde Butler married
Denise Orme Of the musical comedy stage
and Mrs. Atherton failed in her breach .
OF promise case against him because the
promise was made by him while she was
still a married woman. She still remains
the queen of many subjects,
EDfNBURoH, Jan. 23.-When the hearing
Of Mrs. Strings suit for divorce was .
resumed in the Court Of Session to-day ,
Airs Atherton took the stand and cor /
roborated Capt. Strings testimony that !
her relations with him had not been i'm .
proper.
She said the only occasion on which /
Stirling was in her sleeping room was after
ais return from regimental dinner
Mrs. Stirling, she said. had suggested
hat perhaps Mrs. Atherton would like TO
hear what had happened at the dinner.
Stirling had demurred to the suggestion /
hat be 60 TO Mrs. Atherton's room and
oil her. II
She supported Capt. Stirring in his
assertions as to their associations and /
aid that Stirling had been driven into
Ter company by Mrs. Strings atten-
ions to Lord Northland While she.
captain and Mrs. Stirling and Lord
lorthland were together in Paris she
estifed, Mrs. Stirling allotted North
and room in the suite the party had
'ngaged, while Stirling was compelled
o secure a room elsewhere in the hotel.
The examination of Mrs. Atherton
asted three hours. She displayed not
he slightest concern while she was on
he stand. although some Of the questions
nut 10 her we're Of very pointed char
cter. She maintained a smiling face /
The only time she was I
uffied was when counsel proved by means
{ birth certificate that her age was
s, whereas she had given it an 81 S
Mrs. Atherton described a disagree /
nenH she had with her French maid.
'herese when the latter threatened her.
aging, -I'll see that you get int O trouble