Mabel Louisa Dean Paul
Mabel Louisa Dean Paul (1872–1919) was a high-profile English socialite and novelist, and one of the most glamorous British women of the Edwardian era, who was the subject of widespread public and media interest.
[2] She was divorced by her first husband, Colonel Thomas James Atherton (1856–1920), following an adulterous scandal involving one senior British royal, resulting in the eventual naming and shaming of Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster (1879–1953).
[7] Tall and slender, exquisitely gowned, displaying priceless jewels when in public, the London press at the time referred to her as "the beautiful Mrs. Atherton" and "a fascinating disturber of society".
[8] Mrs Atherton had been a leading figure within a group of society women who arrived in Cape Colony with the intent of nursing the injured soldiers, however she flirted with the British officers.
Mrs Atherton proceeded there and for some time stayed at the same British Army camp as the 21 year old, Captain Hugh Grosvenor, the 2nd Duke of Westminster.
These articles claimed such events had occurred at the Mount Nelson Hotel, when she was a 28 year old London society nurse, who became entangled with a senior royal, whilst her husband was away fighting with his troops in the Second Boer War.
The affair was sensationalised in the American newspapers, since Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster was named as co-respondent a week after his marriage to another socialite, Constance (Shelagh) Cornwallis-West.
The Duke’s mother, Lady Sibell, the Countess Grosvenor and his stepfather, George Wyndham, then Chief Secretary for Ireland, were both a major influence on him.
[14] By April 1901, there was much speculation of a money offer to prevent the high profile case from going to court, which Lieutenant-Colonel Atherton at the time had publicly declined.
[19] In 1907, Atherton (née Dean Paul) brought an action for breach of promise of a high-profile marriage against Captain John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston (1873–1930), who on 24 April 1907, had married the music hall singer, Denise Orme.
During 1908, Captain John Alexander Stirling of the Scots Guards, and the Laird of Kippendavie and Mrs Atherton would secretly rendezvous at an apartment in the Cadogan Hotel, Pont Street, Knightsbridge.
[22] Clara Elizabeth Taylor Stirling, an American born actress and ex-chorus girl, alleged that her noble Scottish husband had been unfaithful with Mrs Atherton.
Between 1908 and 1909 British newspaper readers were transfixed with the Stirling Divorce case, with Mrs Atherton’s own private affairs being subject to public scrutiny.
A monogrammed handkerchief belonging to Stirling had been found under her pillow by her Lady’s maid at Mrs Atherton’s riverfront home, Amberley Cottage in Maidenhead.
Whilst in Luxor, Mrs Atherton spent time at the Winter Palace Hotel as the Edwardian era was drawing to a close.
His close family compared Mrs Atherton in a disparaging way to the devilish heroine in Robert Hitchens 1909 hit novel, Bella Donna.
Allegations from her sister in law, Lady Irene Dean Paul claimed that Mrs Atherton was unceremoniously ejected from the prestigious Savoy Hotel in Cairo, resulting in a raiment of disrepute cast upon her name.
[57] Mrs Atherton, in an attempt to clear her good name, brought a slander action against her sibling, Sir Aubrey Dean Paul and his wife Lady Irene, who was professionally known as the renowned composer, Poldowski.
At court, Mrs Atherton alleged that Lady Irene Dean Paul had elated of her that she had been turned out of the Savoy Hotel in Cairo, and that she was a disreputable woman.
[15] In the last two and a half months of her life, Atherton, a wealthy divorcee, a woman of independent means, and weary of publicity, finally remarried on 26 April 1919.
"Ernie" was a playwright, with a passion for Edwardian musical comedy, and cousin to Ivor Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne and Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough.
Upon their return to London, Mrs Atherton, as she continued to be known, had encountered Eliot in bed with Miss Nellie Cornell, his 24 year old stepdaughter from his second marriage.
Shortly after, she accused him of further infidelity, when she discovered that he was providing long-term economic support to a dancer from The popular Murray's Cabaret Club, on Beak Street in Soho.
Eliot's defending position on his good character was that his new wife had been sending him anonymous threatening letters, which had forced him to leave his home.
Despite this verdict, Bruce Bairnsfather, the prominent British humorist and cartoonist who had been actively collaborating with Eliot at the time, promptly dissociated himself from this scandal in order to prevent it from damaging his reputation.
Mrs Atherton was aged 47 at her time of her tragic death, and the Dukes latest interest was Violet Nelson, 19 years her junior.
[68] Hallye Whatley Peck, an American socialite living in London, in turn has been the subject of an alleged curse which coincided with the untimely deaths of Gaby Deslys, Billie Carleton and 3 other actresses.
Walter’s uncle Captain William Cossley Atherton (late Lt RN) of the Fife Artillery stated that he knew of a similar incident.
[77] In 1900, her then husband, succeeded to the command of his regiment in South Africa, during the Boer War, after the death in action of Lieutenant-Colonel David Ogilvy, 11th Earl of Airlie.
After being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and taking command of his regiment, he led his troops in the sweeps in the vicinity of Rustenburg, Magaliesberg and the Elands River, followed by Wittebergen.
