The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-10
by la MARouIsE DE roNrENoY.
ORD WARWICK is leavlng ENG

u.
T ORD WARWICK is leaving Eng
land this month, with a large
stan of engineers. to examine an
extensive tract OF coal and timber land
in British Columbia, bordering on the
United states. and in which he has ac-
quired preponderant interest Should
the enterprise turn out successfully, ne
may yet manage to restore the sadly
impaired fortunes OF his earldom ana
those OF his wife who at the time OF
her marriage was regarded as a grea,
hciress. SO straitened, indeed. hava
the circumstances of Lord and Lad,
Warwick become Of late years. that
they have been compelled, not merely
10 offer the countess's favorite home in
Essex, known as Easton Lodge for
rent, and to sell to an American wo-
man. Miss Dodge. Warwick House,
their stately home in London. but even
TO turn their remaining possessions into
joint stock limited liability company,
Of the kind suggested by the librettist.
the late Sir William Gilbert. In ono OF
the most amusing comic operas. writ
ten TO the music Of Sir Arthur sullivan,
and bearing. II my memory serves me.
the title of Utopia. admitted"
The scheme was launched with a
big flourish OF trumpets, but apparent
~ did not prove very successful. since
the Warwick and Easton Estates Com
pany has figured somewhat frequently
In recent years as defendant in law
suits brought against 1t for the recov-
cry of money loaned.
Lady Warwick has never been popu-
lar with the people OF her own class,
her beauty, her caustic wit. and hcr,in-
difference TO the cCAven;ionalities. ex-
citing many enmities against her.
Moreover. her ephemeraI attempts 10
identify herself with the cause OF So
ciaiism the doctrines OF which she
preached for time like any spellbind-
err, from improvlsed platforms. and
even from cart-tails. served to stlii
further anger the members of her caste
against her. Indeed they held her up
TO obloquy, as Il sort of philippe
Egalite" in petticoats. and were dis
posed to rejoice over everything in the
shape of misfortune that overlook her.
Now. however, their rancor has dimin-
tshed, k'ndlier feelings prevail. and
everybody Will be glad IL her husbands
venture in British Columbia proves a
financial success. and restores the
shattered fortunes OF the earldom.
Winston Churchill has stirred up no
end of trouble for himself by his ex-
traordinary action in assuring orders
to the chief constable OF Warwick
shire. to refrain from executing several
warrants for the arrest on charges of
fraud OF woman OF the name OF
Beatrice Carter, gust completing term
of hard labor in Reading Jail, for
offenses of an analogous character.
Had 1t not been for Winston Churchill's
Interference. she would have been ar
rested Immediately on leaving the
prison gates.
The warrants had been issued to the
chief constable in duo form by the
magistrates of Warwick Birmingham
and other places in the county, and the
question has been naturally raised as
to whether Winston Churchill had
power. as Secretary of State, to stay
the execution of the warrants.
His action is utterly without pre-
cedent. There are some who insist
that he should have waited until the
woman had been re-arrested and tried,
and could then have exercised the royal
prerogative of pardon. in the name of
the sovereign. Others again argue
that since Secretary of State has
magisterial powers to issue warrants
for arrest-such warrants were issued
on the last occasion by Lord Halifax
and Lord Egremont against John
Wilkes in 1763-he has also the power
to arrest the execution of warrants
though there is no record of anything
OF the kind having been done since
the reign OF Charles IT,
That Winston Churchill should ar
rosate to himself, as Secretary of the
Home Department, the right of nuash-
ing and committing, or else renting
the punishment of an offender, after
conviction. in the name of the SOW
ereign. who has the power of pardon,
is one thing. But that he should take
upon himself to order the course OF
justice to he stopped before the offender
Is brought to trial, and grant proven
criminal immunity before conviction.
IS something absolutely unheard of,
since not even the sovereign hiniseiT