Note 22 — Chapter VI

“Application was made at Clerkenwell, to-day, for process against a man calling himself ‘Viscount Mackenzie,’ for deserting his wife and for obtaining credit by false pretences from his landlady, Mdme. Gabrielle Suffolk, of Ampthill Square, St. Pancras.

“It was stated that the man had represented himself to be ‘Viscount Mackenzie, of Mackenzie, in Ross-shire, Duke of St. Omars (a surgeon-general in H.M. Army).’

“Mr. Bros heard the wife first.

“‘Viscountess Mackenzie,’ as the landlady called her, said she was married to the man on January 7th, and he left her ‘four weeks to-day.’

“Mr. Bros: ‘Do you know his address?’—‘No, sir.’

“Mr. Bros: ‘Then I’m afraid I cannot help you.’

“The magistrate then called the landlady.

“She said she knew the man as ‘Viscount Mackenzie,’ and the wife as ‘the Duchess.’

“Mr. Bros: ‘You didn’t believe that, did you?’

“The landlady: ‘He said he was a surgeon-general in H.M. Army, and would get his pension at the end of the month.’

“It was stated that the ‘Viscount’ had left his will behind him, and the magistrate remarked that that did not help him.

“This will was produced in court the previous afternoon, when the wife summoned the landlady for detaining her property, and stated that her noble husband had induced her to part with all her money. The will gave and bequeathed to ‘the Viscountess’ £6,000 a year for life and ‘all the family plate.’

“On the sworn evidence of the landlady, a warrant was granted.”—Evening newspaper.