The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-30
DEATH CALLS WOMAN
OF VARIED CAREER
Lady Sykes, Unconventional
to Last Degree, Dies
at Hull.
GAMBLER AND WRITER
Nurse During Boer War,
When She Sharply Criticised
Medical Arrangement.
GAMBLER AND WRITER
Special Cable to Tho Tribune,

Special Cable to The Tribune.
LONDON. Juno 2s.-Lady Sykes. q
woman who had a remarkable and varied
career. and whose unconventionality Of
conduct was often not far removed from
eccentricity. died at Hull. She was the
wife OF Sir Tatton Sykes. the famous
horse breeder Of Sledmere. Yorks. and
tho mother Of Mark Sykes. the brilliant
young Unionist member for Central Hull.
She was related by birth and marriage to
many distinguished families. Her father
was the Right Hon. George Cavendish-
Bentinck, NJ. p. a member OF the Duke
Of Portland's family, and her sister is
Mrs Arthur James.
A passion for adventure and for variety
led her In later life to flll many unusual
roles. Her outspokenness was by
word, and few women could speak their
minds forcibly when aroused.
So 1t was that the woman who had
been O wealthy society hostess. entertain
ing royalty. suddenly became a nurse In
South Africa, an authoress, the editress
Of two weekly papers in succession, a
noted gambler and auction bridge player,
and the defendant in many actions-one
an unsubstantiated charge Of forgery.
Had Varied Career.
AS a seventeen-year- -old girl she mar
her senior. who had met her in the hunt
ing field. Her reputation as a horse
woman was then second TO none In hard
riding county
Tatton and Lady Sykes Were received Into
the Roman Catholic church, tho Duke of
Norfolk being their sponsor
In the early '9os tho name Of Lady
Sykes was associated with q racing and
gambling set, the members Of which were
noted for their high play. In December,
1896, Sir Tatton Sykes advertised In the
newspapers that he would no longer DC
contract
Long. drawn-out litigation In the courts
followed. for money lender named Jay
cover $50, 900 advanced on promissory
notes bearing the signatures of both: y
was money borrowed at go per cent. tc
MED the signatures purporting to be his
although Lady Skyes swore she had seer
him sign them: 1t was proved that Sil
Tatton was in Brussels when some OF thS
notes were said to have been signed III
London. and the case against him was
| withdrawn
Accused Of Forgery.
Other actions on disputed signature:
were brought and In October, 1897 Lao!
court on charge Of "feloniously forginf
and utterlnR the Endorsement OF bill of
exchange for $4,000 with intent to de-
| fraud" AS 1t was impossible to call 81
| Tatton to give evidence against his wife
the case collapsed, the magistrate sayine
that those proceeding against Lady syke,
had used tho court "for m improper
purpose"
In 1899 Sir Tatton arranged for deet
Of separation under which Lady Syke!
was allowed s25, 900 a year, an income
which she utilized In many adventures II
AZ tbe outbreak OF the Boer war, Lad!
| Sykes, In a nurses uniform. went to
South Africa for two months and WORKED
in the kitchen OF a hospital near Colenso
| On her return she wrote side Lights Oh
| the War" In which she criticised the med
| ical arrangements.
| She wrote many caustic comments oI
| people and things In her two weeklies
'''The Review OF the Week" and Sun
| rise" , {,
| Henrietta street, Covent Garden. which
were furnished like Il houdoiT: she i, re-
| ceiyed duchessos. out-of- work marke
porters looking for charity. jockeys ant
| bookmakers and many other odd charac
! ters.