A FAMOUS LAWSUIT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10410, 25 July 1912, Page 3

A FAMOUS LAWSUIT.

A woman of astonishing vitality and many accomplishments, the lata Lady Sykes who died recently at Hall, was for many years a conspicuous figure In London society. She was Miss Cavendish-Bentinck, a daughter of the late Mr Qeorge Oavendlsh-Benniok, familiar (u the House of Common? as “Little Ben.” She waas married to Sir Tatton Sykes in 1874, there being a disparity of nearly 80 years in their ages. Her natural charm of manner and the fact that she was hostess of one of the stately homes of England qniokly gained for her the position of a leader of society. She was very clever, extremely well informed, and was as thorongbly at home among politicians and literary folk as she was in the less conventional atmosphere ef the laoeoonrsee. She was, too, a firm friend of the poor. It was not an nnoommon thing for her to danoe till the small hours of the morning and then; after a brief rest and a berried breakfast, to go on an early morning visit to some proteges in the East End.

Lady Sykes at other periods of her life visited South Africa dnring the war, wrote a book, edited two newspapers, took an active interest in tbe drama, and did political work. Brought up *in a sporting circle, Lady Sykes qniokly shared her husband’s love of a thorongbbred horse. But while Sir Tatton was mainly content to own and breed the best, Lady Sykes became a victim to all the excitements of tbe racecourse. For some years her gambling—her successes and her lossses—-were the wonder of the gossips. In December, 1896, Sir Tatton formally disclaimed liability for his wife’s debts and engagements, In tbe following year was began litigation which became notoriona. It commenced with an action by a money lender, who sued Sir Tatton and his wife to recover £16,000 advanced on five promissory notes parporting to bear tbe signatures of the baronet and his wife. Tbe evidence left no doubt that the, money was required to liquidate gambling and racing debts contracted by Lady Skyes, although her counsel urged that the oaose of her impeonnioslty was tbe necessity of keeping np town and country establishments on an insufficient allowance. Sir Tatton, however, denied the authenticity of his signatures. The lury accepted his denial, and while judgment was given for him the documents were ordered to be impounded. Later tbe North British and Mercantile Insurance Company sued Sir Tatton and Lady Sykes for £16,000 and £13,00® banded to Lady Sykes, and tne Alliance Insurance Company sued them for £7,500 also advanced to Lady Sykes. In both oases Sir Tattoo asserted tbat his signatures to documents were forgeries. Meanwhile Sir >Tatton took proceedings to restrain a firm of pawnbrokers from parting with some of the Skyes family jewels alleged to have been pawned by Lady Skyes. Lady Sykes also appeared at Guildhall ou an Allegation of forgery with intent to defraud, but no evidence was ollered and she was discharged. At Marlborough street Police Court a summons for obtaining securities by false pretences was withdrawn. .

It was in 1899 that Lady Sykes organised a nursing party for Sontb Africa, where her sen was on active service. Her journalistic efforts followed, one involving her In an action for libel. Lady Sykes was 56 years of age. One member of the Sykes family attained great notoriety as a gambler many years ago. Strange stories of his wild exploits are Current In the East to-day. On one occasion, when riding across the wilds with a friend, he pulled up his horse beside a wayside cottage, and wagered a hundred guineas with his companion that if each drew a single straw from the thatched roof the straw pulled by him (the barenet) would be tbs longer of the two. The baronet, it is said, wen the wager. But the contest did not end there. She pair went oa pulling straw after straw, and with every pul! one or the ether lost a hundred guineas. Upon another occasion, it is said, the whole of' the SledEaers 'estates were staked on a race between insects placed on plates heated at the dining room firs. The baronet, who laid the wager, made his plate too hot, and the .insect running for him was shrivelled up. The other insect remained crawling lazily about on hie opponent's piste. Had it crawled off the estates would have been lost. At the last carmens, how* ■ ever, someone entered the room. A lady, It is said, learning what was happening, wici* a sadden movement swept the plates to the floor. The wager was not relaid.