The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-05


tons, 1t is rare In these latter days tn
houses of England and France, and In
a lesser degree of Germany and Italy.
Fifth x~snue.
dramas CT society none can equal in ro-
mantle, even tragic, interest that in
which the fates have interviewer the
names of Marlborough, Vanderbilt,
Deacon, Baldwin, Radziwill and dozen
other names almost as familiar. To
this tragedy drama in real life has just
been added a new chapter with re-
association of the names Of Marlborough
and Deacon in the announcement from
London of the engagement of Miss
Gladys Deacon to the Duke of MARI
borough.
News of Engagement.
Three days ago a cablegram from
London brought to New York the news
that one Of the three beautiful daugh-
tiers OF the late Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
Parker Deacon of New York, Boston,
Newport and Paris would soon be mar
ried to the divorced ducal husband of
the only daughter of the late William
X. Vanderbilt and the present Mrs.
Oliver H. p. Belmont.
Coincident with the announcement
has come an unverihed report that
Consuelo. Duchess of Marlborough. the
divorced wife Of the Duke would be-
come the bride of Mr.. Jacques Balsan
of Paris and retire from the British
peerage, in which she has held con-
spicuous place for twenty-five years.
Further to enliven the newest chapter
Of this remarkable social drama, 1t is
possible that the wedding may be stimuli
taneous
No doubt members Of the inner cir
cles Of London society opened their eyes
wide with the news that Miss Gladys
Deacon would become the ninth Duchess
Of Marlborough, in succession to her
childhood friend, inasmuch as the an
nouncement followed by few weeks a
previous one that the comedy daughter
of Lady Lillian Boyd would be married
to the Duke as soon as the divorce OBJ
tanned by the Duchess Consuelo was
made absolute
To start this family history II is
necessary to refer back to New York
society of the late 7o's when Admiral
and Mrs. Charles II. Baldwin and their
beautiful daughter. Miss Florence Bald
win. lived In the lower part of Fifth
avenue. There are many persons still
a part and parcel of New York society
who will recall the simple marriage OF
Miss Florence Baldwin to Edward Par
ker Deacon, a quiet but rather eccentric
man of Boston and a member OF fam-
lily of bankers.
Their wedding took place more than
forty years ago. and their three ddufn-
ters, Dorothy, Edith and Gladys Deacon
Joined the daughters of other representa-
five families of New York and Newport
In the pleasures of the young set OF the
time. In the early SOS Admiral Bald
win Joined the uptown movement OF
society by taking the house at 500 Fifth
avenue now the site of a towering orice
building In the summer he and MS
family Joined the colony at Newport
where Snug Harbor. their villa I'm Belle
vue avenue. was the scene OF some oil
the best and most dignifed entertain
ing of the Rhode Island resort OF four
decades ago.
Made Their Home Abroad.
Soon after their marriage Mr.. ana
Mrs. Deacon went abroad and Newport
and New York society rarely saw them.
although they we're frequently heard
from by letter or in records of the pub
lie prints as taking their place in the
high life of Paris and the Riviera. Mrs.
Baldwin died a few years after the
marriage. Then In the course OF Few
years the Admiral remarked. He died
leaving a considerable fortune TO ms
widow, daughter and beautiful grand
children. The property included tne
Newport villa. Snug Harbor. There the
second Mrs. Baldwin, who is the Mrs.
Charles II. Baldwin society knows so
we'll to-day, continued to pass her sum-
ners and Il was there that Miss Gladys
Deacon became the girl friend OF Miss
Consuelo Vanderbilt They were NOM
bers of the same dancing classes. at
tended the same finishing schooi and
became two OF the most popular dehu-
tantes OF the winter season In New
York of fssS-94.
,rhe merry progress OF their careers In
society in New York and abroad was
suddenly halted by the tragedy that
shocked society on both sides OF the
water when In the late winter OF 1892
ur. Deacon shot and killed Emile Abeille
In Cannes, France. For several years
Mr.. Deacon had conducted proiItaple
banking business In Parts. His finan-
c,,l affairs kept him and his wife abroad
most OF their time. They maze Nisits
20 their relatives In Boston and New
York at rare intervals.
The records OF the Deacon Abeille
cause celebre show that Mr.. Deacon mao
gone to Paris, leaving Mrs. Deacon ~
the Hotel SplendIde. Cannes, where trey
had an apartment. Upon returning on
February 10, nuCn sOoneT tIah hc -
pected. Mr.. Deacon Is said to have found
his wife and NJ. .,veille together In the
hotel apartment The two men are said
10 have exchanged a few hot words
A moment later the visitor lay dead
en- the apartment floor. He had beer
shot and had died instantly
Daughters Taken by Friends.
The three daughters. who were In the
apartment at the time OF the murder
were taken to another part OF the hotel
where friends took them In charge. The
police permitted Mr.. Deacon TO pass the
rest Of the night In his apartment. The
following day he was remanded TO jail
Mrs. Deacon and her daughters disap-
peared. On February 90 Mr. Deacon
vas reminded for trial. which took
place In Nice on May 90. Such a sen.
sation had the Killing OF Mr.. Abeil,
caused 'ha; curious persons, many oi
them '.nsVn to Mr.. and Mrs. Deacon
hastcnci from London and Paris TO Nice
10 witness the trial When the tria
started four times as many persons al