Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-12
MYSTERY OF THE SILVER CASKET
discriminating Letters Purporng to Be Written by
Mary Queen of Scots-She Said They Were Forgeries.
Unsolved Problem of Her Guilt
BY JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS

s.T,AREWELL, France, farewell! ] shall
l. never see thee more
beautiful girl Of nineteen. ensconced
upon a couch. wistfully viewed the French
coast from the deck OF a vessel which was
bearing her back to her native Scotland
She was Mary stuart, who upon the death
of her father, James V, had been crowned
Queen Of Scots when a child of only ten
months. and who. after having been spe-
cally educated in France for marriage
with the Dauphin had married that prince
ling when she was only sixteen. a year
later her husband had asccnded the French
throne, but her reign as Queen OF france
had In another year been cut short by his
untimely death. And now this spirited girl,
still in her teens, was both Dowager Queen
of the French and reignng Queen of Scot
land.
The depression which Queen Mary Suf-
fered on seeing her beloved France fade
from her sight was shadow cast upon
her by coming events. Immediately upon
landing in Scotland she became involved
in quarrels with her people because of her
adherence TO the Catholic faith, in which
she had been reared. And she was drawn
into dispute with her cousin Queen
Elizabeth of England, whose legitimacy was
disputed and whose throne was claimed
for the young Queen of Scots But queen
Mary's worst troubles began when her un-
cles set about to find for her "A second hus-
gested to Her, she was finally persuaded to
share her throne with Lord Darnley son
of the Earl of Lennox. but after their mar
riage she discovered him to be a vicious
weakling, and her justified contempt for
him aroused his bitter jealousy. Suspect
ing her attachment for David Rizzo, her
French secretary, the King had the for
eigner assassnated under her very eyes.
This crime but increased the Queens con-
tempt for her consort. and thereafter her
friendship for the Ear Of Boutwell, became
the subject of comment.
Marriage to Boutwell, ..
As Boutwell, aided Mary Stuart when all
others seemed to desert her, she had clung
| to his strong arm, But unfortunately for
| them both the young King was just at this
precarious time blown up with gunpowder
| while in lone house. Boutwell,. after
| having been tried and acquitted of this
murder was recommended by the nobility
| for the Queens husband, but. throwing
ceremony to the winds, he was returning
| with her suite to Edinburgh and. like Loch
invar. he carried her by force TO his castle
| at Dunbar Then, obtaining hurried
| divorce from his wife, he married Queen
Mary a few days afterward. Thereupor
the Scotch mobiles. outraged by the adven.
| ture. raised rebellion against the Queer
| and locked her up In Lochlevin Castle. But
she escaped to England to seek the protec
! ton of her cousin Elizabeth.
Her abdication having beeen forced. hel
evil half-brother, James Stuart, Earl OF
| Murray, illegitimate son of King James
was now made regent for her infant son
| But by escaping into England Mary Stuar
| had but fallen from the frying pan into tn,
FIRE. Elizabeth still smartng from hel
cousins former claim to the English throne
decided that she must investigate certain