DENNISTOUN V DENNISTOUN RECALLED FROM 1925

 

 

Dennistoun v Dennistoun

Kings Bench Division, High Court, 1925

“The Dustbin Case”

 Dorothy Dennistoun brought a Civil Court action against her former husband, Ian Dennistoun, a retired Army officer, to recover £1300 she advanced him for bills and loans during their marriage. She also claimed damages for breach of a verbal contract for maintenance.

 The Dennistouns married in 1910 but divorced in 1921. Dorothy was persuaded not to seek maintenance.  Ian said he’d make provision, if he could, at a later date.   In 1920, Dorothy met Almina, Lady Carnarvon through General John Cowans, quartermaster of the British Army during WW1 and a close friend of the Dennistouns.  Later, Ian met Almina, whose husband discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb and famously died from a mosquito-bite in April 1923. Almina and Ian fell in love.

Almina deposited large amounts of money into Ian’s bank account during 1922-3.  Ian repaid Dorothy £500.  She reminded him what amount was owed.  Later, he left an envelope addressed with her pet name “Brown Mouse” containing £100. By September 1923, Dorothy wanted full repayment.  Ian refused to discuss matters except through his solicitors. Meanwhile, Almina installed him in a flashy London apartment, and then in December 1923 they married.

During 1924 no progress was made to settle with Dorothy. On 3 March 1925 The Dustbin Case (said Punch) came before Mr. Justice McCardie.  Sir Ellis Hume-Williams KC representing Dorothy, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC for Ian. It lasted 17 sordid days, rocking the Establishment, destroying many reputations.

Dorothy was named mistress of General John Cowans.  She claimed she’d only been intimate with him to secure advancement for Ian in the Army.  Cowans  - a legend – had died in 1921 – and was given a State funeral.

There was mudslinging all-round. Dorothy’s team claimed she’d been intimidated by claims about her misconduct. Ian’s team described Dorothy as a blackmailer misusing private letters written by him ( pet name “Tiger” ).

The case dominated newspaper headlines for weeks. Well-dressed women camped in the Strand to visit the Court scene. The King wrote to the Lord Chancellor of his  “disgust and shame” about the case.

Edward Marshall Hall – who’d misguidedly taken the brief as a friend of Ian - lost control of his attacks on Dorothy, she remained cool throughout 14 hours of cross-examination.  Her immorality was exposed with many lovers named.  One, a Spaniard, Bolin (with whom she fell pregnant and was to marry) was cited as the true reason for divorcing Dennistoun.  And that Dorothy had only taken the proceedings as Ian’s new wife was very rich and was sure she’d want to settle out of Court.   It was said “ Tiger” Dennistoun was fully aware and encouraged Dorothy’s liaisons with Cowans.  Ian’s appointments between 1913-17 were orchestrated by Cowans, first as a favour, then only for sex.   In 1916, Ian visited the Ritz Hotel, Paris ahead of Cowans seducing Dorothy to ensure everything was laid-on.   Dorothy impressed the Jury who awarded her £5000 damages. The Judge said this was inconsistent with the law. He gave judgement in favour of Dorothy’s claims for only £472.18 ruling “there was no binding agreement to support her.”  The case incurred ten-of-thousands of pounds in costs and lawyers’ fees, neither party saved face.   Interestingly it was the last divorce case of endless dirty-washing being hung out in public.  Despite a strong protest campaign by the Press, Parliament passed the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Act 1926 prohibiting the detailed reporting of divorce cases in newspapers. MORE INFORMATION CONTACT WILLIAM CROSS COPIES OF THE BOOK ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM WILL williecross@aol.com

DENNISTOUN v DENNISTOUN REMEMBERED FROM 1925

 

 

Dennistoun v Dennistoun

Kings Bench Division, High Court, 1925

“The Dustbin Case”

 Dorothy Dennistoun brought a Civil Court action against her former husband, Ian Dennistoun, a retired Army officer, to recover £1300 she advanced him for bills and loans during their marriage. She also claimed damages for breach of a verbal contract for maintenance.

The Dennistouns married in 1910 but divorced in 1921. Dorothy was persuaded not to seek maintenance.  Ian said he’d make provision, if he could, at a later date.   In 1920, Dorothy met Almina, Lady Carnarvon through General John Cowans, quartermaster of the British Army during WW1 and a close friend of the Dennistouns.  Later, Ian met Almina, whose husband discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb and famously died from a mosquito-bite in April 1923. Almina and Ian fell in love.

Almina deposited large amounts of money into Ian’s bank account during 1922-3.  Ian repaid Dorothy £500.  She reminded him what amount was owed.  Later, he left an envelope addressed with her pet name “Brown Mouse” containing £100. By September 1923, Dorothy wanted full repayment.  Ian refused to discuss matters except through his solicitors. Meanwhile, Almina installed him in a flashy London apartment, and then in December 1923 they married.

During 1924 no progress was made to settle with Dorothy. On 3 March 1925 The Dustbin Case (said Punch) came before Mr. Justice McCardie.  Sir Ellis Hume-Williams KC representing Dorothy, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC for Ian. It lasted 17 sordid days, rocking the Establishment, destroying many reputations.

Dorothy was named mistress of General John Cowans.  She claimed she’d only been intimate with him to secure advancement for Ian in the Army.  Cowans  - a legend – had died in 1921 – and was given a State funeral.

There was mudslinging all-round. Dorothy’s team claimed she’d been intimidated by claims about her misconduct. Ian’s team described Dorothy as a blackmailer misusing private letters written by him ( pet name “Tiger” ).

The case dominated newspaper headlines for weeks. Well-dressed women camped in the Strand to visit the Court scene. The King wrote to the Lord Chancellor of his  “disgust and shame” about the case.

Edward Marshall Hall – who’d misguidedly taken the brief as a friend of Ian - lost control of his attacks on Dorothy, she remained cool throughout 14 hours of cross-examination.  Her immorality was exposed with many lovers named.  One, a Spaniard, Bolin (with whom she fell pregnant and was to marry) was cited as the true reason for divorcing Dennistoun.  And that Dorothy had only taken the proceedings as Ian’s new wife was very rich and was sure she’d want to settle out of Court.   It was said “ Tiger” Dennistoun was fully aware and encouraged Dorothy’s liaisons with Cowans.  Ian’s appointments between 1913-17 were orchestrated by Cowans, first as a favour, then only for sex.   In 1916, Ian visited the Ritz Hotel, Paris ahead of Cowans seducing Dorothy to ensure everything was laid-on.   Dorothy impressed the Jury who awarded her £5000 damages. The Judge said this was inconsistent with the law. He gave judgement in favour of Dorothy’s claims for only £472.18 ruling “there was no binding agreement to support her.”  The case incurred ten-of-thousands of pounds in costs and lawyers’ fees, neither party saved face.   Interestingly it was the last divorce case of endless dirty-washing being hung out in public.  Despite a strong protest campaign by the Press, Parliament passed the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Act 1926 prohibiting the detailed reporting of divorce cases in newspapers.

The Dustbin Case

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION  CONTACT WILLIAM CROSS. COPIES OF THE BOOK ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM WILL. EMAIL BELOW

 williecross@aol.com

 

 

Tutankhamun Centenary 2022 : Lady Almina Carnarvon's Game of Charades

 TUTANKHAMUN CENTENARY 2022

ALMINA COUNTESS OF CARNARVON  PLAYS  OUT  HER OWN  GAME OF CHARADES 

Almina, Countess of Carnarvon

In November-December 1922  whilst Howard Carter and  Lord George  Carnarvon were playing out their  choreographed games around the Old King Tut discovery  and then entering into  Tutankhamun’s tomb,  Almina, Carnarvon’s wife was missing from the centre stage at Luxor.  

Almina was playing out her own game of charades.                     

The woman who forked out  the money  for  the  14 years of digging through the generous  hand-outs  she secured  from  her sugar daddy,  Baron Alfred de Rothschild, was sorting out  how to add to her  bank balance.

The reason for  Almina’s absence  on  the first November 1922 trip by her husband  to Egypt  is crowded with surreptitious art deals and sneaky arrangements, the usual level of  Carnarvon lies that have confused history.  

Year on year, for 20 years, Lady Carnarvon had accompanied his Lordship  to Egypt.  Upon the epic discovery being made, and Howard Carter’s famous telegram, Almina  declined to go out to the scene of the great triumph.  This was because she had other bigger fish, much bigger fish to fry in the hotels  of Paris and in the English countryside, as far away as possible from the eyes and tongues of London spies.

One cute explanation given was that “being so often disappointed [on previous journeys to Luxor ] [Almina] decided  to  stay behind.”  [i] [ in England].

Colonel Ian Onslow Dennistoun and Almina, Countess of Carnarvon

Another reason, the true one,  is clear.  Almina was already  deeply involved  in a relationship with  Lt Colonel Ian Dennistoun, whom she later married a few months after  she   humanely hastened  Lord Carnarvon’s demise in the days she spent nursing him at the Continental Hotel,  Cairo from 26 March- 5 April 1923. 

 Almina  was seeing the Colonel and they were lovers. 

 This fact came out  in the High Court in 1925  during the  17 day sex scandal Dennistoun v  Dennistoun.  

 The Colonel – and his ex wife Dorothy may well   have had a cunning plan to deceive Almina,  but the Countess saw through any ploy.   She wanted the Colonel and  had him in her bed.   Moreover , he  was the fall guy, the  patsy. 

Almina’s plan was also  to money launder the proceeds of  her intended  art  sales through   Ian Dennistoun’s   barren bank  account. Ian was skint, he lived on a tiddly  army pension and hand outs from the  helpless  women he chased.

Baron Alfred de Rothschild

In the winter of  1922/3  the Countess was busy wheeling and dealing over the estate left to her by  Baron Alfred de Rothschild.  Alfred, a shrewd  collector of old Masters, Gainsboroughs,  French porcelain,  rare silver and the finest  jewels treated Almina well, he secured the title for her of Countess of Carnarvon, he funded the Carnarvons’ whims  for decades; but he had to as Almina’s mother Marie Wombwell  was aware and ready to disclose Alfred’s cloudy business  and shameful sex secrets to the world.

[i]  Sunday Times, 10 December, 1922.

READ MORE IN 

" LIES, DAMNED LIES AND THE CARNARVONS"

A NEW BOOK FROM

WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT

Lies, Damned Lies And The Carnarvons

CONTACT WILL CROSS BY E-MAIL

williecross@aol.com