A FORGOTTEN SCANDAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2011, 22 February 1890, Page 1

A FORGOTTEN SCANDAL.

The death of Lady Susan Opdebeek revives memories of a great social scandal of some sixty years since, As Countess of Lincoln (wife of Lord Lincoln, afterwards the distinguished Duke of Newcastle) Lady Susan held a position in London Society much akin to that now rejoiced in by the present beautiful Duchess of Leinster, The world was ht her feet, and she considered it “well lost” for the sake of Lord Walpole (now Lord Oxford) with whom one fine day the foolish, wilful beauty ran away, Mr Gladstone, a great friend of the injured husband, followed the pair to the Continent with a view to obtain evidence for divorce purposes. Arrived at Lord Walpole’s villa at Como he found to his disgust the love-birds flown, but discovered an English doctor there had attended the pair. Thinking to secure him as a witness, the grand young man sought the medico out, Alas ! the doctor declined to be mixed up with the affair. Attributing his reluctance to pecuniary considerations, Mr Gladstone said, “ Oh, but you will be well paid.” Upon which the doctor in a fury said : “ What I go and betray my good friend Lord Walpole, who has been such a friend to me, Get out of my house, you scoundrel; ” and Mr G. “got.” The connection between Lord Walpole and Lady Susan did not last long. Many years afterwards she married a Dutchman named Opdebeek, and lived quietly abroad. Mr Gladstone and Lord Walpole (now Lord Oxford) are still alive, and must have read of Lady Susan’s death with mixed feelings. Lord Oxford married in 1841, but has only one child, a daughter.