THE MANCHESTER BREACH OF PROMISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE MANCHESTER BREACH OF PROMISE.

MISS PORTIA KNIGHT'S CAREER.

Miss* Portia Knight, who is sueing tlis Duke of Manchester for breach of promise, a couple of years ago arrived in .London to' follow a profession which had made her neither wealthy nor very famous in' the States. London proved decidedly pleasant, socially. But there was no sudden leap to the heights of gratified ambition, it must be confessed that the arrival of Miss Portia Knight of Oregon and New York made comparatively little stir. She was hampered, too, by a serious accident that shortly befell her. At a dinner given at the Hotel Cecil she slipped and, falling down a flight of steps, injured her spine. For many weeks she was unable ta leave her room. Then she sought lodgings. While convalescent Miss Knight met the Duke of Manchester. They had a common friend, it happened, an American newspaper man. And the most amiably versatile of noblemen happened at that time to be a newspaper correspondent himself. THE ACQUAINTANCE PROGRESSED RAPIDLY. Va ingenuous testimony to the impression which Miss Knight's charms had made upon him, the Duke, on the day after he had met her, bought a boat and named it Portia. This made a very good start, indeed. And the Duke was flatteringly assiduous in following it up. For a week later he was her escort at Oxford. Here tke "doings" of the University Buildings proved rather a strain on the convalescent. She fainted, was hurriedly taken to London, and another prolonged illness followed. For weeks Manchester was in constant attendance upon her. The friends who have so faithfully chron-. icled. all the rest of the story declare that it was during this illness that the betrothal which Miss Knight now alleges occurred. For the Duke, they claim, was very nracU in love; and Miss Knight, if not in lore, was human euough to be aware of the advantage to an ac|ress of being engaged to the unusual combination of a Duke and ft newspaper man. In the capacity efther of accepted lover or highly disinterested friend, the Duke next planned to star Miss Knight professionally.. He secured a play, retained the setvlccs of. a business manager, and negotiated for the actress' appearance at a London theatre. Then it was that THE STRANGEST EPISODE . . ■ in the history of the Manchester-Knight lov6 story occurred. In the same wcelt in which she was to have made herLondori debut Miss Knight vanished from her lodj}? ings. No trace of her could be found; Manchester engaged the services of detectives: Together they searched London for days. The actress was at length located in a invent connected with the Brompton Oratory, which she had entered preparatory: to taking the veil. The Duke's letters, TWHeecbing Miss Knight to grant him ah lnter*le_w/ brought no response. In one of them It is said he declared he would commit suicide unless she left the convent. Even that failed of a, reply. At length by main force—so the story runs—Manchester made his way into the convent and succeeded In inducing Miss Knight to return with him to the world. The plan to star the actress waa not.howr ever,. resumed. Just why it is not knowUJ But it was about this time that there was a faint rumour of Manchester's engagement, to Helena Zimmerman. According to Miss Knight's story, Manchester persuaded her to give up the idea of returning to the stage at all, at the same time ASKING HER TO BECOME HIS WIFH. He arranged with Father Gordon flt the Brompton Oratory—at leßst, bo soys Miss Knight—to marry them last summer. A8 Father Gordon died several months \g9 Ws testimony will be an important link missing in the chain of evidence relied upon by Miss Knight. And now it was the Duke who played the rapid - disappearing act. Simultaneously, from Paris came a rumour of his engagement to Miss Zimmerman. It was a blow to Miss Portia. But she acted promptly. Suddenly, upon hearing the rumour fiam •across the Channel, Miss Knight developed a strong attachment for the Duke. Following him to Paris, she sought an Interview—a fruitless effort it proved. The sequel is familiar; the brief engagement between Manchester and Miss Zimmerman; the quk-t, hnrried wedding at Marylebone Parta Church, London; the American honeymoon, and, finally, the writ in the breach of pro. inlse case, and that's how the matter restfS now. Miss Portia Knight is at present understudying lending parts in Marie Tempest* company at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. *'■".'.' *