Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-03-01
LONDON NOBILITY IS
STIRRED BY TRAGEDY
Major Seton, Shot To Death, Was
Of Family Made Famous And
Historic By Scott
LOVE AFFAIR TO BLAME


4 web of conflicting loves. including
perhaps every possible emotion of h
wognan's heart. IL interwoven Ia . re-
narkable tragedy now stirrins Ions
don.
The victim Is Mai Miles Carcston
seton, Who was shot to death IN the
residence or his cousin, Sir Malcolm
ever. which il % gripping the public
mind as the amazing taugle oI the
most human lncidonts leading up 70
ii.
The principals come Of the most
lr.stoeratic and wealthy families Of
the realm. The slain man, Major
seton, was d direct descendant Of
Lord Seton. that grand old Scotch
man who, with his daughter. was the
principal character in Sir Walter
SCOTS historical romance, Tho ABB
bot.
Slayer War Hero
I,leutcnant Colonsl Rutherford, the
accused, is man who has engraved
lis name forever III the glorious his
sory OF the British army BY extreme
yaIor on the fields az France, where
de- won tho Distinguished Service
medal. Both slayer and victim were
ofHcers In the medical branch Of the
army.
nut at the apex Of the triangle
stands the most hun1an, perhaps the
scion. BY Lieut. Col rutherford
ii is not the sctuai Staying. how
nnst pathetic. Of the trio Mrs. Alice
rutherford, the woman ID the case. Z
she Is the daughter OF Sir James Rob-
erts. who some years ago eiopad with
iii secretly married the present Col
onel rutherford.
For number Of years Colonel
rutherford and Major Seton were
n. a1 fnk kinaat tes IA fasts sl1at
MAJOR Seton was made the godsath her
of one ot the Rntherford's SIX lovely
shildrer.
Quite naturally, while Colonel Ruth
srgDrd was away at the war Ii the late
summer Of last year. Major Seton cali
ID frequently at the rutherford horAei
nil Hill.
At first there we're only afternoon
salls. but iii short time Major Seton
egan spending week-erds with hia
er.end's family
Love 0Fows Cold
The slrst evidence as I'd the deTclOp-
ncnts was revealed Id letters sent BY
Mrs rutherford To her husband.
From July ri 10 November % These
letters show that Mrs Rutherford's
feeling toward Ter husband changed
from nobiest love to bitterest hatred
d one of the last letters exchanged
Mrs. Rutherford wrote:
You grossly abused the deepest
love i woman had for man. and tho
remainder of our life Will be q curse
10 you for evermOre.
On September IN. the wifs Tor the
arst time told of the struggle she had
undergone 10 decide whether she
loved her husband She said
Il have been through hell this last
week and with no one To help me,
hut am findlng ont the way. n dit
ferent woman writes to you, who win
never return To the old regime
81 thought loved you and refused
toeshink that did not refused with
tears, because ! thought still loved
you .
Mrs. Rutherford's next letter con
tanned thanks tor war souvenirs sent
to the chfidren from the battle front
s. their father It continued
Mr.. Bird Ii going to write 70 you
about divorce proceedings but hs
may salI yOu that Still care TOR ypsl
candldly othe men would - 10
more than epfsoaea Ia my lie 10 me
Yoa were life itself bat en-
oouylnced your nature VIII never
! chsnge ana that only unhappinsss Iiea
with you 4
Colonel Rutherford apparently Wa.
I guTly aware that Major Seton hzf
/ visited his Wis during this cprrs-
sponaence He, COionai Rutherford
returned home On January Z oi thls
1 year. servants testified at che III,
/ uuess ok the bitter auarrel khe Rsrth'
srIords Ind This ended BY to goi
onei packing his grip ana skaYting
Tor the home O9 Sir Aknlcolsm Seton
cosasin of the major With whom latDl
seton was visiting Rutherford san
i wus6 that BE aaatF@d ID rec Ehe 10 s1F
8s0r seton wslks6 tnsD tIss dssAss'
Ing rntlna. ata afEeg 3 few weFds witl
-. - frF