New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-17
SCOTTISH CH|EFTAIN HERE
King George PardOnS a Mem
Der of Cameron Clan.

Copyright 1913 by tie Brentwood CompanyJ
Whereas iu England the Crown has
90 great extent abandoned Hs royal
prerogative % clemency 90 the Secretary
Of State for the Home Department. who
IS responsible fnr 90 exercise To- Pariia-
ment and who iu notable case. de-
cliued 20 comply with the late queen
victoria's pressing demand FOR the re-
prieve and commutaton Of the death
sentence passed upon convicted muir
derer. 70 is in Ireland and more espe-
cisuy iu Scotland. that the King retains
his oldt.me rights Of pardon.
During tho progress which Edward VII
made through the rural districts ~ Ire
land some time after his accession 10
the throne. he granted several full par
dons no response 10 petitions presented
20 him and 20 queen Alexandra 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 hy the Chief
Secretary for ireland
And now King George has very quietly
exercised his sovereign hight NJ pardon
n Scotland In behalf OF q. AyImer Cam
eron. who was sentenced some eighteen
months ago 20 three years penal sery.-
tudc. with his wife. IN connection with
what was known as the Edinburgh
pearl case" They wer charged with
having attempted 90 defraud a burglary
insurance company out Of a sum Of 5000
by means Of the substitution Of BOGUS
pearls FOR real ones. Both husband aud
wife moved In the best society IN London
and Scotland. Mr.. Cameron being scion
Of the principal branch Of the great
Scotch house Of Cameron and an artil-
lery officer Of great promise. lie had
seen service IN India. had taken the
trouble TO master the Russian language.
and was on the point OF being specially
promoted 10 captaincy when oyertaken
by the scandal.
The sentence was generally considered
unduly severe. For In the first place the
insurance company had suffered no loss.
and moreover Mrs. Cameron was an cX-
trenely pretty. light-nsaded little woman.
with absolutely no knowledge OF business
or sense OF responsibility for her acts.
She had been forced 10 pledge her real
pearls I'm order 10 pay pressing dressmak-
crs' bills. had allowed the pawntickets
10 lapse and had purchased an exact imi-
tation Of the necklace IN order that It's
disappearance might not be noticed.
when the imitation pssrls were snatchcd
from her neck by thief In Edinburgh
she was literally compelled by her friends
and associates 10 apply FOR the amount Of
the burglary insurance which she had OBJ
tanned on her real pearls
There was a question &c TO whether her
husband had ever been aware OF the sub
stitution OF the imitation for the real
pearls. II he had not known OF II. he was
maniftsuy innocent Of the charge OF con-
spiracv. But no insisted that he had
known In fact, his entire conduct during
the trial showed his purpose Of taking
upon himself all the blame for the matter
ana OF saving his wife She was liberated
wear ago. and has since gone on the
stage though not under her own name.
Now he has been set al liberty by
virtue not OF a tlcket-of-leaye but of
rovaI pardon, and the fact that the petit
ton for this pardon was signed by every
one OF the officers OF the Royal Field Ar
tillery. TO which he belonged, partcu-
larry by the officers and commanders
with whom he had served, as well as by
Cameron Of Lochel, the chief Of his clan.
and by most OF the leading members
thereof. furnishes pretty conclusive evil
dence Of the fact that his conviction and
sentence 10 penal servitude were the re-
suit OF a chiyalrous desire TO save his
wife rather than Of any personal delin-
quency.
Steps are being quietly taken, with the
full approval OF the King 10 enable the
ex-lieutenant TO begin life afresh. There
is even a movement on foot 10 endeavor 10
secure his readmission 10 the army, and
while there may be some difficulties about
this. Il Is probable that place VIII De
found for him out In India or In Egypt.
The chief OF his clan-namely, Donald
Cameron. OF Lochiel-arrived In New YORK
Yesterday on the Imperator with his VIE
Lady Hermione Cameron. daughter OF the
Duke and Duchess Of Montrose. They are
going up to spend some time with the
Hon. Lionel and Mrs. Guest at their
island home on the 81. Lawrence.
Lochlel-for these great Highland cher
tains. who TO far greater degree than