THE GORDON SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 882, 5 May 1903, Page 2

THE GORDON SCANDAL.

CHILI) TAKEN TO AMERICA

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. NEW YORK, May J.

Lady Granville Gordon aud her child have arrived at New York aud are settling in the West.

Tho Gordon case has been described as one “ not equalled 'in fact or lietion,” and proves what a woman, no matter liow guilt-stained she may be, will go through for her child. The Court, on a Tuesday, ordered’ Lady Granville G onion? s child to be handed over to Mr it lie Gordon by tho next day. Instead of the child came a note that Lady Gordon had run oft with the child. Tho shocking defence set up in regard to the care of the child was that the co-respondent and not the husband was the father of the child. Reviewing Lady Granville’s conduct, Mr Justice Jcune said that 'it was a shameless case. She had admitted that she married Mr Gordon with the deliberate intention of breaking her solemn vows. Hers was a moral offence, carrying with it dishonor and degradation, and, while it. was no part of his duty, to punish offenders against morality, he had under Hie circumstances to ask himself was she the proper person to have the custody of this young girl ? Was she the proper person to have charge of the child’s education ? —to leach her morality and the difference between right and wrong ? Could he find in her favor, in the full knowledge that her teaching of the child must be a contradiction of her own conduct ? lie felt that no judge could take the responsibility oi handing over a child to a mother, yfio had so terribly misconducted herself. To what sort of society could Lord; and Lady Granville Gordon introduce this child when she grew to womanhood ? Perhaps they hoped : that time would act as a healer, and that some day they would be able to regain the esteem and respect which they had forfeited. He was sorry to crush such hopes, and 'it was a terrible thing to say, that her name would ever be one of scorn, and that no lapse of time, would ever restore them to the respect and honor of (heir friends. It was necessary, in the interests of the child’s future, that she should be removed from the constant association of the woman, who deserved respect for the love of her offspring, hut who, unfortunately, had otherwise forfeited this respect. The judge’s order, however, could not he carried out, the mother absconding with tho child.