Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-22
PICTURESQUE FIGURE
IN POLITE CROoKDoM
Son of English Hack Driver,
He Studied the Ways Of
Society, and Later on,
Co m i n G to A m e r c a.,
Passed Himself Off as
Lord" harrington.

st. Louis. Dec 22.-There appears to
be a strong probability that a Christ
mas sift in the form OF a pardon may
be handed to Lord" Darlington. who
is serving a life term in the Missouri
state prison for the murder of James
P. Mccain near this city in 1902. Per-
sistent efforts to obtain freedom for the
notorious prisoner have been made
during the past half dozen years. This
time his counsel has gone before the
pardon board with petition signed by
members of the jury which convicted
him, by several justices of the state
supreme court and other pei sons of
prominence and influence.
Freedom for the bogus lord. whose
real name is said to be +. G. Barton,
would add another chapter TO the sen
sltional career of man who las been
known to the police of three continents
as society highwayman. resourcetni
crook. bigamist, forger and murderer.
Until his arrest or the murder charge
in 1902 put a check to his career, LORD
harrington" was one of the most pic
turesque figures in polite" crookdor,,
for although he was of lowly origin.
his speciality of passing as a member of
the British peerage went well in num-
erous cities and helped him to live
without work for many years.
SON O A HACK DRIVER.
He was the son of a hack driver in
Tunbridge Wells. England, At the age
of IL years he was sent to prison for
embezzlement. After serving three
Years he escaped. only to be arrested
two years later and sentenced for rob
berry. At the age of Is he stole securi-
ties valued at $4,000. and was sentenc-
ed to 10 years penal servitude. but was
released on a forged pardon.
While still in England he got into
some OF the best households as SER
want studied the ways of society and in
later years made good use of his
studies. He perfected himself in
French, German and the classics and
vas a polished fraud when he arrived
In this country in 1891, lie posed here
as the son of an English nobleman of
rank and wealth. AS such he Won
Miss r. Celestne Miller, of Brooklyn,
an heiress With a fortune in her own
right. After marrying Miss Miller he
had the effrontery to return to the
land where he had served mue.1 time
and established himself with his wife
In a home at West Brighton. There he
cold -bloodedly told his wife the truth
about himself
Stripped of every penny by her hns-
band, the unhappy wife returned to this
country with her child, and Barton was
arrested and sent back to prison to
serve out an old sentence. Immediately
after his release he returned to the
United States.
welded AN HEIRESS.
In 1902 Philadelphia received with
open arms Lord BorgoTne.' of the
English peerage. His lordship was
none other than the eX-convict. but be-
fore that came TO light he had courted
and welded Miss Margaret Rafferty,,
an heiress. While they were on their
honeymoon "Borgoyne" slipped from
the train and disappeared. After keep
ing under cover for some time the ex-
convict made his appearance in st
Louis society as Lord harrington.
He met and married Miss Wilhelmina
Grace Cochran, of Independence, Iowa
who was visiting in st. Louis at the
time.
ssBefore he could enjoy the money he
had obtained through this marriage a
hard headed brother of Miss Cochran
had uncovered MS record anu Hdu
Harrington" thrown into prison. Fol
lowing his exposure Darlington sue
ceeded in winning the confidence OF
James p Mccain, a wealthy horseman
and hotel owner. Mccain was known
as a man who drank heavily, hob
nobbed with a fast set, and was rapid
ly dissipatng the remnan' of his for
tune
NUDE BODY FOUND.
on the night of the murder Mccain
and Darlington went together to 9
suburban resort, McCann drank heav-
lily. harrington claimed that they go
in bad company. and that there was 9
fight in which both men figured
About 10 o'clock the two boarded cal
and rode to Bonfils station, lonely
spot in the farther environs OF st
Louis. A few minutes later three pis
toll shots were heard. Nearly weel
later the nude body of Mccain wal
found floating in pool In an aban'
doned quarry. harrington was at once
arrested. One bit of evidence aftel
another was found that pointed to thu
lord" as the murderer. His trial
which resulted in his conviction ans
sentence to death, was one Of the mos
sensational in the history Of thu
country.
For five years there waged a lega