New-York tribune., 1911-01-04
PRINCE S0LNK0FF
His Historic Name Figures in
New York Lawsuits.

rsr woman. who is described in the news
nauers as the widow Of the late Prince
Dimitri Soltykon. against two men for
v-cnev alleged to be owing 20 her by them.
has naturally led 20 inquiries as to her
identity. The prosecutrix bears the Chris
TAN name Of Ethel. and the stories pub
usrcd concerning her two lawsuits say
she was formerly known on the stage
here iu America and in England as Miss
Ethel clinton AMI that her real name
vas Elizabeth Bushnell Clinton II was
also added that by the will OF Prince Di-
ritri Soltykon he had bequeathed TO her
ar annuity Of $1,000 a year, In addition to
other property.
Now. according to the will Of Prince
Dritri Soltykoff. which was admitted TO
probate by the Court Of Probate in London
I'm January. 1904. the testator makes no
mention Of wife or widow. but leaves 70 his
friend" Mrs. Elizabeth Bushnell Clinton.
Of No. ! Chesterfield street. Mayfair. all his
iewelry and trinkets, his house and prop
er;y az Newmarket known as The Kremlin.
his race horses. his horses and mares also
sum II s1o.ooO ia cash and an annuity,
no. Of S5o.op0 year. but Of $40. 900 a year.
The residue Of his estate he beaueathed 10
his brother Prince John Soltykoff subject
30 legacies Of $4,000 20 the children OF a
Nine de Coudrsv-Jollivet nee d'Hargeville.
n the Avenue Dc Niliers, in Paris. and be
guests 20 a number of Newmarket charities
NCy was there any mention made OF his
leaving "a widow I'm his obituary notices
which were Of considerable length and full
ness Of detail. owing 10 the very couspicu-
Gus role which he had played on the Eng
rsh turf and in London club life FOR a
period II nearly half = century. and like
wise owing 20 the celebrity OF the Soltykofr
family in Russia, and indeed throughout
Europe
Prince Dimitri was indeed married, while
= young man, 20 countrywouan Of his
own. daughter Of \ Boyar, John Yakoleff.
who was master Of ceremonies At the Court
n =. Petersburg under Nicholas I and in
the first years Of the reign Of Alexander
IT. But she died, after only three or four
years Of happy union. leaving him with
hoy, who followed her to the grave az the
age Of fifteen. II was after this that he
settled IN England. against which country
he had fought I'm the Crimean War.
The commencement Of that struggle found
him in the diplomatic service, from which
he promptly resigned to enter the army as
q private He quickly won a commission in
The field. and during the latter portion OF
the war was aid-de-camp to- General Pas
Eevitch. Always much Interested in rae
.nC he visited England about the time Of
tre death Of the Prince Consort in order
10 learn how things were conducted at
Newmarket at Ascot, Goodwood, the
Derby and other great race meetings, and
found life so agreeable and English society
so congenial that ne spent most ot the re-
graF Nni
large racing stable a. Newmarket. house
iu London. yacht at Cowes and a country
seat, famous for its abundance Of game
and 'tg splendid shooting, in the Midlands.
In 1871 he vas. on the nomination Of the
then Prince OF Wales. elected a member o:
the English Jockey Club, being the first
and ONLY Russian 10 enjoy that distinction,
while in 1SsO ne vas elected as one Of the
Jockey Clubs three stewards, that trium-
1irate which constitutes the supreme tribu-
nal OF Great Britain in all racing matters
and from whose decisions there IL no ap-
real Indeed the three stewards OF the
jockey club may be said 20 constitute
species OF high court OF honor Of English
society. for it has occasionally, by resolv-
snr 70 "warn" a man on Newmarket
Heath" inflicted upon him the most deadly
dishonorable conduct. not connected in any
way with racing matters The prince was
the only foreigner who has ever been elect
- 20 the Office Of steward OF the Jockey
Club and thus chose by the most repre-
tentative body Of Englishmen, Of the high
est rank. 20 act as arbiter and Judge among
r,rgIisNren I'm questions Of honor, notably
'u the dispute between the Earl Of Durham
and sir George Chetwynd resulting in the
yarte-'s retirement from the Jockey Club.
During the latter years Of his life the
rriuce devoted much Of his attention 10 the
drama. and was the owner Of TWO or three
london theatres which We're A source Of
considerable expense TO him, and did not
precisely contribute 20 give him very
lofty idea of English taste in theatrical
,vatters In fact. on one or two occasions,
when PLAYS we're produced in his houses
end .ader his management that did not ap-
r,eal to the taste Of the public. he consolcd
N.usels with the reflection that the plays
81 question were too refined
The Soltykor family furnished an EN-
press To- the reigriug dynasty Of Russia in
.ra person of Feodorovna Soltykoff. who
married Car Ivan ". and thus became
,na mother of Empress Anne. Nicholas
SoltykOn was the first 10 receive the
lriucelv title. for his victory over Frederick
the Great OF Prussia at the battle of
Kunersdorf. Prince Ivan So!tykoff. his son.
vas also a famous general, and was cree
ated a field marshal by Emperor Paul
diving as Governor OF Moscow.
Another Soltvkoff Sergius by name, is
srdoed credited with having been the
father Of Emperor Paul. and IN that way
fre ancestor Of the present sovereign house
of Russia. who are popularly regarded as
being more SoltykoT than Romanoff. For
when the German Princess Catherine o.
anhalt married Czarovltch Peter. who ac-
cordirc 20 the records Of the time. was
drunken. dissolute degenerate. Empress
Elizabeth became so alarmed at the non
arrival of an heir that she not only sane
toned but even encouraged the attentions
of Se-cius Soltykoff 70 Grand Duchess
Catherine The birth OF a son, who eventu-
ally succeeded his mother (afterVard En-
press Catherine the Great on the throne
o. Russia as car Paul. relieved the
aayiaf, of the Empress Elizabeth as 10
Che succession Sergius Soltykon is set
down la biographical works OF reference as
.,he ers. official lover OF Catherine the
Great"
En5,e.g Elizabeth. with q cynicism In
keeping with the moral atmosphere OF the
eighteenth century. and likewise Tot 'he
rI-D0so az removing Sergius Soltykof from
le- oWr court. presented him WIN i"''o
-ublee l. WAY Of a reward and then DIS
yafche5 hin, - special ambassador 70 the
various capitals az Europe for the purpose