LADY D, CUTHBERT SHOT DEAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 9

LADY D, CUTHBERT SHOT DEAD.

A TRAGIC MISHAP. Great distress was caused in TjmcdaJc on January 31 bv the news that, Lady Dorothy Cuthbert, fourth daughter of the Earl of Strafford had been accidentally shot 'dead while accompanying her husband, Captain Cuthbert, who was shooting pheasants with a party near their residence, Boaufront Castle, Hexham. It appears that between 11 and half-past 11 a party of four guns, accompanied bybeaters, started to shoot the Quarry Wood, a 10-acrc preserve about a. mile from Beau, front Castle. They were just starling when Lady Dorothy Cuthbert motored up and joined the party. The accident' followed within three minutes. Mr Portal, the estate agent, Mr Foster, and Mr Pomfrot, who, _ with Captain Cuthbert, formed .tho shooting party, wcro rather in advance with the line of beators. Captain Cuthbert and Lady Dorothy followed side by side, tho captain, about a yard in advance.

• A bird flew back, and Captain Cuthbert turned sharply. As he turned either some part of his coat—perhaps a button—caught tho trigger of the gun, or his finger touched it, and the weapon was discharged before being brought to tho shoulder.' Lady Dorothy was at the most two yards away, possibly less, and received the full cliaTge right on tho left side of tho face. The charge was email shot, but at, the short distance there was 110 time for it to scatter, and the effect was the same as if a heavy bullet had been tired at tho same range. A wound was made from the right cheek upward.;, and death ensued instantaneously. One of the beaters raised tho alarm, and the head keeper, who lives nearly opposite the scene of tho accident, was quickly on i lie spot. Ho found Lady Dorothy lyiiy* on the snow-covered ground. Captain Cuthbert, overwhelmed with grief, was lying face downwards on tho snow, but uninjured.

Mr Portal had doctors sent, for from Hexham, and meantime a carriage was summoned. Tho body was taken to the castle, where Dr Stewart, Hexham, stated that death had been immediate.

Captain Cuthbert, who, the beaters say, had very great experience in shooting, anil was most careful with gnns, has tho profound sympathy of the wholo district. Naturally, ho is heartbroken.

j Lady Anne Dorothy Frcderiea Cuthbert, who was only in her twenty-sixth year, was the daughter of the Rev. tho Earl of Strafford, and was married to Captain James Harold Cuthbert, D.S;O.. late of the Scots Guards, in September. 1903. Tho Earl of Stratford was formerly vicar of Holy Trinity, Twickenham, and St. Peter's, Cranley Gardens, Grand Chaplain of Freemasons, Chaplain to tho Speaker of tho House of Commons, and Hon. Chaplain to Queen Victoria. . The news of Lady Dorothy's tragic death was a severe blow to the whole neighbourhood, where she was very well known, and had, during her brief married life of three and a-lmlf years, endeared herself to all classes, especially by many acts of'kindness. She took an active part in all social and philanthropic work in the district, and was a frequent visitor to the Hexham Girls' Club, where she mixed with Ihe girls, sang to them, and did her utmost to popularise ihe institution. Sho was always "ready to open bazaars, and at a recent Tvnesido choral competition joined in the singing of a local choir. Captain James Harold Cuthbert is a wealthy Northumbrian landowner. Born in 1876, l,e entered the Scots Guards at tho ago of 20, and as lieutenant served in tho South African campaign, in which ho lost his only brother. I'or his gallantry at Magcrsfontein in galloping across a fierce line of fire with despatches ho received special mention. He was present in (ho engagements at Knslin, Mcdder River, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and ISclfast. Ho was Lord Methuon's aide-de-camp, and was jroa.uent.ly mentioned in despatches. 11l addition to gaining the Queen's medal with six clasps, and the King's with two, ha won his D.S.O. Captain Cuthbert, is an expert with tho revolver, atul gained (he army revolver championship three years ago. He is an author, too, having published an acount of bis battalion's South African experiences.