The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-08
ILL-FATED TITLE
GOES TO PEARSON

her husband and his son. and under
this circumstances the Judge presiding
over the case granted decision In
her favor. her stepson remaining with
,orlty
Not long after that was reached he
was made aware for the first time
that there was flaw I'm his right To
the baronefcy. j seems that his grand
father. Major courtcnay Mansel, had
lived at least nine years with his
wife before going through the cere-
mony OF marriage with her in 1919.
During nearly all those nine years
they had resided in Scotland and tho
fact ;iat they had passed there as man
and wife was sufficient in the eyes OF
the law of Scotland to constitute u legal
marriage, There Were several cha-
dren born to the couple in Scotland
among them son. Edward berkeley
Mansel. This Edward Mansel. who
served In the Sixth Dragons, retiring
with the rank OF colonel, managed, ar
ter good deal or difficulty. to obtain
from the Court OF Sessions in scotland
a document styled "Declarator OF
Marriage" establishing the fact that
his father, Major courienay Mansei.
had been, in the eyes OF the law OF
Scotland. the legal husband OF the
applicants mother during their resi-
dence in the Northern Kingdom, prior
to the marriage ceremony. and that he
himself. therefore, was the eldest and
nephew, young Sir courtcnay Chat Is
to say. the son OF Sir Richardl, was
friendly party TO the suit. and the
only reason for the appeal TO the
courts was for the sake OF obtaining
legal recognition of the Legitimacy OF
Colonel aIansel and of his consequent
ownership of the baroDetcy, then yest-
ed In his nephew.
Sir Courtenay AIansei tieroupon sur
rendered the title to his uncle: mis-
stepmother, the Gaiety actress. being
likewise compelled TO drop her title OF
Lady Mansel. since her husband. Sir
high Scottish courts to have held the
baronetcy illegally. This was in 1908.
Five years later Colonel Sir Edward
Courtenay died. and as he had no chill.
dren of his own the baronetcy returned
to his nephew, while the colonel also
left him his very extensive property
| in recognition of the generous and
| honorable manner in which he had act
| ed In connection with the surrender
| of the family honors. II is only fair
| to add that Sir Courtenay did not
| await the action of the Court of Ses-
| sions at Edinburgh in granting the
"Declarator of Marriage before aban-
| doning the use of the title. AS soon
| us he became aware of the flaw in his
| right to the title he notified his uncle
| that he would refrain from thence
4 forth from using the prefix of Sir
to his Cnristian name. and that, far
J uncle might bring to establish his
| rights, he would assist him In the mat
\ ter.
Within the last twelve months
new development has arisen in this
| connection. The College OF Arms in
| England and the House of Lords have
determined that although, the peculiar
Scotch marriage laws were sufficient to
| render legal the union between Major
\ Courtenay Mansel and his Wife, prior
| to their ecclesiastical marriage, and
! to legitimiZe any children born pre-
| vious to their wedding, yet that no
marriage law other than that Of Eng
| land could govern the succession to an
English title, Consequently, that al
though the late. Colonel Sir Edward
Mansel was Legitimate according to the
laws of Scotland, he was not entitled
to the baronetcy. This decision has
had the effect of depriving Sir Ed
| wards widow of her. title of "ady" and
| of restoring 1t to the former Gaiety
actress. namely, the stepmother of the
| present baronet.
| Copyright, 1910, by the Brentwood
Company