SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 51, 1 March 1909, Page 6

SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE.

LORD EANFLTRLY'S SON AS CORESPONDENT. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 22. Lord Northland, the eldest son of the late Governor of New Zealand, the Barl of Ranfurly, figures in the Stirling divorce case, which is exciting a great amount of interest in Scotland and in London. The case opened in Edinburgh on Tuesday last, when Mrs. Clara Stirling's petition for a divorce from John A. Stirling, Laird of Kippendavie, Perthshire, was heard. Mrs. Stirling accused her husband of misconduct with Mrs. Mabel Atherton, a lady well-known to London society. There is a cross petition 'by Mr. Stirling against his wife, alleging misconduct with Lord Northland.

The friendship of Lord Northland for Mrs. Stirling was referred to in the crossexamination of Mrs. Stirling on Tuesday. He was present in Court, and was represented by counsel.

Mrs. Stirling, who is a petite and pretty woman with a veiy pale complexion, was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Taylor. She was dressed in black, and wore a black picture hat with silver trimmings, and a brown fur stole, and she carried a fur muff. She gave her evidence with remarkaible self-possession, but when replying to some of th# questions in cross-examination she spoke in vibrant indignant tones.

Mrs. Atherton, a strikingly handsome woman, occupied a seat at the solicitors' table. She was attired in a close-fitting dark-brown velvet costume, and wore a black fur toque with a large osprey aigrette.

Lord Eanfurly sat beside his son on one side of the Court, and lMt. Stirling sat with his solicitor on the opposite side.

Cross-examined by Mr. Clyde, K.C., Mrs. Stirling said when she was married she "was on the stage at the Adelphi Theatre in "The Earl and the Girl."

She had not sl speaking part, but was not in the chorus—"she was betwixt and between."

She was living in a flat when she was first introduced to her husband by a lady and gentleman in April, 1904, when she was just 20 years of age.

Her father, who was in America, was a Government official. She denied pointblank that she was living under anyone's "protection" at the time. Her salary in "The Earl and the Girl" was at least £4 10/- and then £5 a week.

Witness denied that her extravagance had caused constant quarrels with her husband.

Counsel read a list of bills amounting to £ 1913, which her husband paid in 1907-08.

Witness said Mrs. Atherton was "a very beautiful woman, and a very fascinating woman," and witness went shopping and spent much time with. her. A FRIEND. Mr. Clyde suggested that another friend besides Mrs. Atherton appeared in the Stirling circle about May, 1904. Witness said she met Lord Northland at supper with her husband, about ft month before she was married. She next met Lord Northland in 1907, when •he was brought to a theatre party by Bomeone, and the next occasion was in May, 1908, when he dined with them at C'hesham-street at her husband's invitation.

Lord Northland had some interest in insurance matters in the city, and her husband was concerned.

Witness admitted she saw a great deal of Lord Northland after that, and that Lord Northland was the fourth member of a party which went to Paris, the other three being Mr. Stirling and herself and Mrs. Atherton.

The "barrier" bet-ween witness and her husband she had mentioned had nothing to do with her feelings for Lord Northland "'at that time."

Was it later?— Yes. When? —Just before I went to America.

Asked to explain this, witness said , early in July her husband and she had a quarrel over Lord iNorthland. She admitted she told her husband she was in love with Lord Northland.

"I don't say I was not fond of him before, but I did not realise I was really fond of him till then."

When they arrived at the Hotel Westminster, in Paris, witness and Mrs. Atherton found that a suite of rooms had -been taken on the top floor. Lord Northland arrived next day, and Mr. Stirling on the day after that. Witness picked out thp biggest room, and said, "You mustn't think it piggish, but that will do for Jack and mc."

She denied absolutely that she ever suggested to Mrs. Atherton that there was not room for her husband in that suite, and that he must have a room elsewhere in the hotel.

She admitted that she and Lord Northland went out from the hotel, and did not wait for her husband's arrival, but it was "at Mrs. Atherton's instigation."

Do you mean that you were day in her hands?—l was very much so. *My husband came on with Mrs. Atherton, and joined mc and Lord Northland at a. restaurant about two o'clock in the morning , .

On Sunday, June 14th, they went to Longohnmps for the Grand " Prix. Oh June 16th her husband asked her if she was in love with Lord Northland. Bhe did not ask him what led him to put the question, because she knew Mrs. Atherton had been evidently talking to her husband. She said, "certainly not, ,, but that if he left her alone with Lord Northland all the- time she probably would be. "It is," said witness, emphatically, "an absolute lie." ' A CANCELLED LETTER. Mr Clyde produced and handed to Mrs Stirling a letter --'ritten by her intended for Lord Northland. It was given, the counsel said, by Mrs Stirling to a pereon for delivery to Lord Northland, but the instructions -were subsequently cancelled and instructions given to destroy the letter. The person had found it in an old dress since she came to Edinburgh to give evidence.

Mrs Stirling acknowledged that it was in her handwriting. Its contents, ehe said, were true, but whether or not counsel interpreted the |f.rms rightly she did not know. (Laughter.) Mr Clyde then read the letter as follows:— "Amberley Cottage, Taplow. "I have just talked to Jack, and he isn't cross; only, what's more distressing, sad. I feel such a dreadful rotter, for he asked mc straight out if I was in love with you, and I simply couldn't tell tell him that I wasn't. He asked mc what I wanted to do; and I am so miserable with the whole thing that I feel the sooner I leave this world the better off all of you will be.

"Jack says, what possibly may be true, that you vrould most likely leave mc on the mat. I wonder if you would. There is no danger of Kirn following mc, for he

is far past that stage, and now only feels that something must be arranged. He has made mc feel so much worse tiian I ever imagined I could. "There is no use of your saying that if I don't see you for some time that lie will be all right, for he simply knows, apd nothing else matters., He has offered to go away at once and leave mc alone down here. All this is said and done in the nicest way possible, and I'm sure he will never be nasty or watcli mc. "I said to him that he mustn't blame you, for it's my fault, and only mine. My dear thing, are you really fond of mc, and do you think ft worth your while to go on? I have always put the worst aspect on the whole thing. Do you think it worth while? I can't play the rotter always. I can't write all I feel, so will arrange to have, a talk. I somehow feel it won't be fair on you, and I am not worth spoiling your iife for.

Have a good think, and always remember that whatever you do I will always love you.

(Signed) "CLARE." Written in pencil, counsel said, was the following addition:—^

"I don't know what's up, but I opened .your wire to Jack, and you are evidently having another interview in the morning. You are not to promise him not to see mc again. You can promise him not to follow mc when I am away; but evidently I can't go, as there is no room in any ot the boats to America. I will ring you up between 12 and 1.30 at Pall Mall tomorrow. I must see you, as this suspense is too dreadful. If you are tired of the whole thing, you—and you only—can end this thing. Being powerless and not knowing what is to happen is awrui.

(Signed) "CLARE."

Mr Clyde handed a further letter to Mrs Stirling, written by her husband, which contained the following: —

"I can only ask you to forgive mc for wrecking everything. You will soon find something who will make you happy. As soon as things are arranged I will leave England. You can go ahead and divorce mc, and there will be no fighting in the case. You had better do that, as being tied together and yet apart is silly.' This closed the cross-examination. MR. STIRLING'S EVIDENCE.

Mr. Stirling in the witness-box denied las wife's allegations regarding Mrs. Atherton, and enlarged upon the intimacy which he said had existed between his wife and Lord Nortniand.

At Henley Regatta, he said, Mrs. Stirling and Lord Northland invariably had a punt to themselves, and Mrs. Atherton accompanied any others of the party. Mrs. Stirling and Lord Northland used to go down to the boats first, and get their punts and go off. Near the end of Henley Week he again spoke to his wife about Lord Northland. He also said he was surprised at Lord Northland's conduct after the latter had given him his word in Paris that he would keep away from Mrs. Stirling. He told hie wife it would lead to trouble, and that she had better stop.

Mrs. Stirling was very angry with him for insinuating or suggesting that she was doing anything stupid. She did not hint at retaliation, and he did not think Mrs. Afherton's name was mentioned. He wanted to separate his wife and Lord Northland, and he thought possibly two months' absence of his wife in America would be the best plan. That was why Mrs. Stirling went to America.

He had a conversation with Lord Northland on the same subject. Witness wrote a letter to Lord Northland in which he reminded the latter of that conversation. The letter was dated Chesham'-street. July 15, and stated: —

"I have forbidden my wife under any circumstances to see you. Remembering our conversation in Paris, l believe I can rely on you to avoid communication with her in any way." A HENLEY PROTEST. At that time he neither noticed nor suspeeteo. anything wrong about Mrs. Stirling's apparent preference for Lord Northland. He said it was not true that he had paid marked attention to Mrs. Atherton. He only performed the ordinary acts of courtesy to her. He denied that Mrs. Atherton , ® bedroom was the general headquarters of the party.

As to nicknames, Mr. Stirling said "Nancy, dear" was' a fabrication of the servant. He called his wife "Kiddy." His brother Douglas- was called "Kitten*," and Lord Xorthland "Fatty." (Lauphter.)