The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-18
GEN. LAWRENCE DIVORCED.
TESTIMONY TH4TSd TISFTED THE COURT
OF MRS. Ia WRENCE'S GUILE
The Sequel to the Meeting In Belgium Inst
summer. mt which Mr.. Carroll Livinxston
AssIsted and Mr.. j. G.. Bennett was Present.

NEWPORT II. l., March 17-The suit Of
Gen. Albert g. Lawrence for decree OF divorce
from his wife. Eva Lawrence, was heard to-day.
and decree granted. no defence being made
by Mrs Lawrences counsel Gen. Lawrence is
tho son OF ex-Gov. William Beach Lawrence OF
Rhode Island. who 10 widely known as nm
authority on international law. Mrs. Lawrence
is gTandniece OF Gen. Zachary Taylor. and
was the widow OF Capt Kingsley when Gen.
Lawrence married her. Capt Kingsley was
killed ut Antietam. and was serving at the time
on Gen. Lawrence's stan. He was tho heir,
with a sister and brother. to great wealth.
principally in Chicago real estate. The sister
was married to Gen. Simon b. Buckner OF
the Confederate army. After Capt. Kngsey's
DEATH his widow went to Baltimore with her
son. then child Of three years. and resided
with her mother. Gen. Lawrence remained Mt
the head Of his command until so severely
wounded while leading a charge at Fort Fisher
that his life was des paired Of. He recovered,
with the loss OF one arm and with scars OF
wounds upon MS other arm and on ms NECK
Newport to Capt. kinRsley's widow on Feb. 20,
1865, and is said to have lived very. happily With
his wife until some time in 1870. Much OF their
time was passed In Washington during the win
ter season. while the summer months were
spent in Newport. Rye Beach, and NJ the Pequot
House In New London. They also lived year
or more in Europe.
Gen Lawrence. after the war. spent much Of
his time In caring for the estate OF his wife and
her son, which came to them through Capt.
Kingsley. There were complications in the set
tlcment Of this estate. owing TO the fact that
Gen. Buckner had. when entering tho COnfed-
crate service, transferred his property TO his
brother in law, Capt. ingsley. TO prevent con-
fiscation. Capt. Kingsley recognized this as
trust estnte merely in tine VIII that ne drew w
Just before the battle OF Antietan But the will
was declared invalid, and therefore the whole
properly. estimated at several millions. went 10
Mrs. Kingsley and the son. subsequently Gen.
Bnckner brought suit for tho property and
offered the will TO prove that Can't Kingsley held
the estate in trust only. and he won the suit
Still there was a large pronerty lett for Capt
Kingslcy's heirs. In 1875. Gen. Lawrence
accepted IN appointment from Gen. Grant
10 serve on n commission that went to
the Black Hills. and it is alleged that
II was during his absence that Mrs. Law
renee became unduy intimate with Amedee
Vanden Nest, tho Secretary of the Belgian lega-
tion at Washington. Gen. Lawrence tor long
time Is said 20 have been in ignorance Of tho
loss Of his wiie's affections. but in the summer
OF 1877. while in New London. he was obliged
peremptorily to forbid Vandcn Nest further
acquaintance with Mrs. Lawrence The in
timacy was renewed. and during his absence
from Newport in the winter Of 1878 Mrs. Law
renee sailed FOR Europe. and was followed nv
Nanden Nest who obtained leave Of absence.
H. was subsequently dismissed the Diplomatic
service. Gen. Lawrence became satisfied that
his wife intended To- leave him permanently.
and soon after found compromising letters in
Vnnden Nests handwriting.
These letters were submitted 10 Mr.. Carroll Liv-
nRston OF New York and Mr. Brigham willing Of
Philadelphia, who were personal friends ol Gen.
Lawrence. They accepted delicate mission
London showed him the letters. and demanded
either an acknowledgment or denial from him
wrote them. and consented 10 meet Gen. Law
renee, who had also sailed Tor Europe. on the
ged few miles from Brussels T'hin ten
and cous u Of ,vSnden Nests performed The
same office Tor him II Is also understood that
Mr.. James Gordon Bennett was on the field.
Gen. Lawrence II reported 10 have nred first
without WI enec!: anu NedhTTnh Nest men dl5charg-
change Of shots. Gen. Lawrence returned 10
Newport in September. and nt once began the
stood that Mrs, Lawrence would make no de-
fence. in case only sufficient evidence was Of
fered to secure the divorce. Mrs. Lawrence has
been living since the duel in Paris.
Mr.. Francis B. Peckham. Jr.. opened the case
this morning for Gen; Lawrence by reading the
charges M contained in the complaint sworn
and subscribed 10 by Gen Lawrence and on file
with the Court. The first witness WIS Mr..
Isaac Lawrence. who testified as follows:
lam the brother OF Albert g. Lawrence the
plaintiff In this suit. know him and his wife
They resided at my fathers mousse, Othre Point.
there since February OF last year. | have not
seen his wife for nearly two years have seen
their child. Tho mother has had no communi;
cation with II for over year. | WINS informed
last year that Mrs. Lawrence had left her hotel
n New York ana gone abroad. have not seen
long time. certainly not since February. 1878
the mother and the child had had any COM
mmpication / should have known it,
The witness was not cross-cNnmined.
Mr.. Peckham then called Marie Klein. and
there stepped TO the clerks desk an intelligent
appearing young woman Of about % years Of
age. She gave her testimony in clear voice.
hut with decided French accent Alter trsti-
Tying at some length that she had been gov
crness 10 Gen Lawrences child since its BIRTH
that she knew Mr.. Van Den Nest IN visit
ne H., deMISndReInt late at & night IN Grnys IS7s
bench
with Mrs. Lawrence. and that Van Den Nest fol-
lowed them there each year. In 1875 he used
Beach House. and remain until ] or 2 o'clock
in the morning. Other parts ~ her testimony
London two years ago the General forbade Mr.
Van Den Nest to visit his wife. After that she
discovered. through friend, that Mr. Van Den
Nest WIS sending kilograms and letters 10 Mrs
Lawrence in her witnessed name. She told
Mrs. Lawrence To discontinue IT, tut nfterward
witness received letter addressed in her name
but 1t did not belong to her. Plaintiffs counsel
handed her u paper. and witness recognized II
rs n copy Of the original letter she had received
II read as follows:
Ny psAREsI. Mrs Turnhul has jg;, told me that he
iodo' wish could know how to see YOU somewhere
sunday PRAY forgive me ana don't be- any Longer
angry love YOU, and want you, and shall have YOU
r' y"a love- love me me- and hat YOU are coming 10
make ,,,es, %S happy and u w' ,Isy sye M
travel rustca,e somewhere. will regret nothing
can barely admit tie thought OF living without YOU
! am almost crazy with wishes Tor you
Don't keep responsible tor ~ temper thuk that
| am never mad hut away from YOU Why did you maec
me love You muchi Please answer tins at once Mail
ne answer to the hotel that may have it Friday BE
kind and good tome. viii love YOU so much. hat
the lite lead. Tell me where would see you IWant
YOU want you. Your own, faithfully.
There WAS no signature. This concluded the
examination Of Miss Klein. and Counsellor
Peckham then read the affidavit of Mr.. Carroll
Livingston, which proved that he took tho
original of this letter to Mr. Vnn Den Nest in
London. and that gentleman acknowledged
having written IL. This WIS plaintiffs ease
The Court Ito Mr.. Honeyl-Have you anything
to Offer2
Mr.. Honey-No, your honor.
The Court Ito Mr. Pcckhaml-l am satisfied
with the testimony. Mr. Peckham. and will
grant divorce AZ once.
The decree was mads out In the usual way
with the following addition: And it is or
dered adjudged. and decrred that the aforesaid
Albert q. Lawrence have the sole custody. care
and keeping Of the before named minor child