Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-13
MORGANATIC MARRIAGE.
A Novel divorce Suit in Progress


Communicated to the PUBLIC LEDGER.]
A divorce suit of gigantic proportions
and startling interest 10 rare thing in a
Southern city. Those modern social
Improvements bud and bloom IN
colder climate. At present, Chi
cago seems to be ahead in the race
Of divorce, having eclipsed New
York in these peculiar institutions-dl'
vorce and alimony Without emptine
to enter into this race after notoriety, il
seems Memphis can, in quiet way, give
societyone of those periodical shocks quite
as startling as an earthquake, but not
quite of 80 moral character. Our
Chancery Court has received into its
never.relessing grasp one OF those huge
divorce bills, wherein is recapltulated I,
history of wicked social life Of five years
duration; in fact, tale of several cities,
elegantly written up by member OF one
of our most notable law firms. 1t 10, in
truth, heavy legal document of over
thirty pages-s literary legal romance,
having all the necessary concomltants OF
novel-seduction marriage, crime and
it's conseuuences-a suit for one divorce
and alimony of fabulous amount. We
will call the parties Mr.. and Mrs. Lawson,
name under which they travelled from
city to city in cog. The lady petitioner
| states that "she was married to the petit
toner ia the city of New York in 1864
that the defendant induced her to agree
to assume the name of Mrs. Lawson. She
states that she was the daughter of an
actor now deceased, but one who, while
living, was not unknown to fame or TO
the people of Memphis; that she was
educated by kind friends, her father
being poor and unable to defray the
necessary expenses of her education.
Under their fostering care, she says, she
received her education, and was just en-
terins, in the full bloom of life and with
the buoyant anticipations of youth las to
the happiness that sheds foods of light
on the face of the great sea upon which
they enter, and of the sorrow and bitter
ness (which they have not sipped), upon
life the first segment of which, by the
Vaccinations Of the designing, the
wealthy and the opulent, threatens to en-
gulf her in shame, misery aud ruin. AT
this juncture, when all lite was JOY in her
anticipations, she met and made the ac-
ouaintance of the defendant--the pam:
pered and dandled son of position and
wealth in the same community amid
which she, the child OF the poor, had been
reared in obscurity and educated by char
ity.r This meeting took place at the
Iuka Springs, in the State of Mississippi,
in Nav. 1864 Soon after this eventful
meeting, so graphically described, she
went to the city Of New York, supporting
herself by copying manuscripts. In a
few days the defendant made his appear
apce and renewed bis attentions, and she
believed they were honorable until he
made her propositions not of an honor
able character, which were Indignantly
rejected. 80 ' - -
MoRGAYATIc MARRIAGE.
At q meeting q few days after the above
event, the defendant told her he would
take her for his wife, to which she as
sented, and accepted him as her husband
We quote again from che bill: And thus
by their contract so privately and sol
emnly made in said State of New York,
and in conformity to the laws thereof,
there your or1trix and the defendant be-
came husband and wife--and the said
defendant at the same time telling her
that no ceremony to be administered or
performed by any minister, judicial or
other sfficer, was necessary or requi-
site under the laws of the said State Of
New York; and the said defendant pub
jicly acknowledged her to be his wife to
the lady of the house with whom she had
been boarding." etc.
For several months they lived as hus-
band and wife in New York. then trav-
eled to Louisville, St. Louis, Vicksburg,
New Orleans, and finally came to Mem.
phis, the home Of the opulent Mr.. Law
son. "Here, the defendant informed her
that his father had threatened him that if
he continued his connection with her he
would procure his creditors to sell him
out, and be begged the pstitioner to help
him TO deceive his father as TO their re-
lationshi until bis debts were paid, when
he could then publicly acknowledge ber."
About this time the father OF the defend
ant began TO become interested in his
sons affairs. He is referred to in the
bill in the following pointed and spicy
mannerf
"Ths defendants father, who by the
representations Of the defendant. seems
to have been the incessant and malig-
naut persecutor of your orairix, forget
ting, as do all such as be, that be himself
was once poor, and that his wealth aHd
purse-proud arrogance are bnt the crea-
lures OF accident, not worth"
At the urgent solicitation Of Mr.. Law
son she vent back to New York, where
she was joined, soon after, BY her hus-
band.
A DIFFIcULTT Is RMBEYo.
The Difficulties and troubles Of our
hero aud heroine became 90 complicated
in the yesr 1867. that the fair lady con-
cluded to bring matters TO 4 crisis in
manner described as follows:
Year oratrix again stated TO defen-
dsnt that this life Of deception and bis
delay TO place her in her true position, 10
-h.-L ~ wns laufnllw antitled had he