The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-05
Grants Glenn ency to Aylmer
Cameron, of Edinburgh Pearl
ny LA MAnaUIsE DE FoNrEHoY.

Nv HEREAS in England the crown
w has to great extent abandon
ed Its royal prcrogative OF
clemcncy, to the Secretary OF state for
tho Home Department. who Is rcspon-
sible for its exercise to Parliament
and who In notable case declined to
comply with the late Queen Victoria's
pressing demand for the repricvc and
communication of tho death sentence
passed upon n convicted murderer In
ireland. and more especially in Scot
land. the King retains his old time
rights OF pardon.
During the prcsrcgs which Edward
VII. made through tho rural districts
Of Ireland. some time after his acces-
sion TO the throne, he granted several
fun pardons. in response to petitions
presented to him and TO Queen Alex
andra by peasant relatives of the
prisoners IN the villages through
which the royal party drove There
was no interference in the matter by
Dublin Castle or by the Secretary for
Ireland.
And now King George has very
quietly exercised his sovereign right
OF pardon in Scotland. in behalf OF
G. -Aylmer Cameron, who was SEN
fenced some eighteen months ago to
three years penal servitude. with his
wife, in connection with what was
known as the Edinburgh pearl case
They were charged with having at
tempted TO defraud n burglary insur-
ance company out OF sum OF $4,000.
by means OF the substitution of bogus
pearls for the real ones Both hus-
band and wife moved in the very best
society in London and Scotland. he as
n scion OF the principal branch of the
great Scotch house of Cameron. and
as an artillery officer OF great promise
- 80
taken the trouble to master the Rus
sian language. and was on the point
of being specially promoted to n cap
tatncy when overtaken by the scandal.
The sentence was generally consid-
cred unduly severe. For in the first
place, the burglary insurance com
pany had suffered no loss. and then
Mrs. Cameron WAS an extremely pretty.
light headed little woman. with alb
solutely no Knowledge of business. or
sense OF responsibility for her acts
she had been forced to pledge her
real pearls In order to pay pressing
dressmakers' bills. had allowed the
pawn tickets to lapse. and had pur-
chased an exact imitation of the neck
lace In order that It's disappearance
might not he noticed When the .m!-
tatton pearls We're snatched from her
neck by thief in Edinburgh she
was literally compelled by her friends
and associates to apply for tho amount
Of the burglary insurance which she
had obtained on her real pearls.
There was n question as to whether
her husband had ever been aware OF
the substitution Of the imitation for
the real pearls. If he had not known
of ii. he was manifestly innocent OF
the charge OF conspiracy. But he in
sisted that he bad known. In fact his
entire conduct during the trial was as
though for the purpose OF taking
upon himself all the blame FOR the
matter and TO save his wife. She
was liberated year ago. and has
since gone on to the stage. though
not under her own name
Now he has been set at liberty by
virtue not OF n ticket of leave but
of royal pardon; and the fact that
the petition for this pardon was signed
by every one of the officers or the
Royal Field Artillery. to which he be-
lonSod. particularly by the officers
and comma ndcrs with whom no had
served. as we'll by Cameron OF
Lochiel, tho chief OF his clan. and by
most of the leading members thereof,
furnishes pretty conclusive evidence of
the fact that his conviction and SEN
tcnce 10 penal servitudc were the re-
suit of a chivalrous desire to save his
wife. rather than OF any crime on his
own part
Steps arc being quietly taken. with
m" full approval Of the King, to on.
able the cN-licutcnant to commence
life afresh. There is even a movement
on foot to cndeavor to secure his re-
admission To the army. and. while
there may be some difficulties about
this. 1t is probable that n place will
oe found for him out In India or in
Egypt
The chief of his clan. namely. Don
aid Cameron OF Lochiel is now on this
side OF the Atlantic, and Is staying
In New York with his wife. Lady Her
mionc Cameron. daughter of the Duke
and Duchess OF Montrose. before going
up TO spend some time with the Hon.
Lionel and Mrs. Guest. at their island
home on the st. Lawrence
Lochiel-for these great Highland
chieftains. who to far greater degree
than the peers OF the northern king
dom, constitute its true aristocracv
are Invariably known and addressed
by their territorial title--is the TWEEN
tN-hfth chief Of the clan Cameron. in
neritinE the dignity in an uubroken
male line from ancestors who ti,sure
illustriously on almost every page OF
Scottish history.
In Scotland. for instance the Duke
or Argyll: is looked up to. not because
ne happens 20 be a dufe. the brother
ln-law OF Edward VII. ANA the uncle
OF King George. as well as invested
with all sorts of hereditary dienities