The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
AFTER THE DUEL, A DIVORCE
THE PROCEEDINGS BEGUN ny GEN.
LAWRENCE 1GAINST MS WIFE
A sequel to the Meeting In Belgium, Last
summer, at which Mr.. Carroll Livingston
Assisted and Mr.. Bennett was Present.


NEWPORT r. l., March Tho suit OF Gen.
Gallatin Lawrence for decree OF divorce from
his wife Is docketed for tial at the term OF the
Supreme Court which begins next week Cen.
Lawrence has already fought duel with the
person who is named in tho affldavits which
will be submitted at the trial as part Of tho proof
OF his charges Of tho inndoity OF his wife. This
duel took place In Belgium last summer and
was a more formaity. At onco upon his return
to tho United States Gen. Lawrence brought his
petition for the divorce. As nm incident Of tho
separation from his wife and tho legal procood-
ings now pending. his mother-in law. Mrs.
Taylor. II Ia asserted. is about TO bring suit
against him for 100000 borrowed OF her at n
time whom his married life was happy.
Gen. Lawrence was married while serving as
Major General OF volunteers to the widow Of
Capt KinEsbury gallant officer OF his staff
who was killed at Antotam. She had been tho
wife Of Capt Klngsbury less than two years
her marriage to that gentleman Just before he
entered tho army being regarded as an espe-
cially happy union. Capt Kingsbury was the
son OF Major Kingsbury. who was at one time
ono OF the wealthiest residents OF Chicago
Perhaps Mr.. Ogden owned more real estate In
tho heart Of tho city than did Major Kings
bury. but the difference In tho estates
of these two men was not great Capt
KnGsbury was therefore prospective helr
with brother and sister TO great wealth. The
sister was married to Gen. Simon Bolivar Buck
ner OF Kentucky. and when Gen. Buckner went
South to command Confederate brigade. no
transferred his large property in the North.
most OF which had come to him through his
wife, to Capt Klngsbury to prevent conilscation.
Tho young lady whom Capt Kingsbury mar
red and from whom Gen. Lawrence now sues
for divorce. Is the daughter OF Joseph Taylor
Of Baltimore. the brother OF President Taylor.
and was woman whose personal charms and
accomplishments were sufficiently great to
make hor specially conspicuous in the social
circle that made Baltimore famous at that time.
Tho father Of Gen. Lawrence is Wm Beach
Lawrence Of Newport. at one time Governor OF
Rhode Island. and we'll known as a writer upon
international law. Gen. Lawrence had passed
his university course with honor. and was Just
beginning practice at tho bar with prospects
that were regarded as very. bright. whom he left
the law for the army early In the war. Here his
own qualities well IA the influence OF his
ond year Of tho war ne was n Major General
and one ot the youngest Of that rank on the roll.
Ii was said by Gen Lawrences friends that
the gossip that was abroad In the army about
his attention TO the wife OF his stan oiicer Capt.
kingsbury. wero wholly unjust. He paid her
might TO any lady and Il was not until nearly
three years after Capt Kngsbury's death that
death. shown that he was a brave man. and his
charge at Fort Fisher. under Gen. Ames. was
tSs % ns the the T the r' he to p
while cheering his men, with three bullets in
his body. One. In his neck. was thought 10 DO
fatal. and one in the left arm made amputntion
necessary. After his recovery he offered him
self IN marriage. manned MS he was. TO Mrs.
he was appointed Minister to Nicaragua. but
just before sailing he fought bloodless duel
with member OF the Foreign Legation at
Washington. Tho difIlcuities that led 10 this
meeting have never boen known excepting TO
those directly concerned: but II has always
been said that Mrs Lawrence was IN no way in
volved. The duel however. cost him his COM
mission ~ Minister 10 Nicaragua. Secretary
So iar as known. Cen Lawrence lived happily
with his vito Tor some year' Tho care OF her
estate and that OF her son bv Capt kingshury.
born two months after Capt kings9ury + death.
occupied much OF hia time. Washington was
were spent at Newport They lived in Europe
also for n yoar or uorc, and II ia believed that
it was In Europe that Mrs. Lawrence FIRST met
the German Diplomat who is charged with h0y-
ing alIruaied her am tions At all events she
su-eqn"nily mot him in Wash hiuston whore he
had cumeHs Secrniury oi THE German Legation.
This gentleman. the Hon. Ame. g." Nnnden N'st.
IA described Hs % hlue-eN"i. light haired young
man. II Is alleged that Gen. Lawrence, whilo
the acquaintance with NHndnn Neat with Mrs.
Lawrence WIS still new discovered "A tendency
ON the part OF tho German 70 be too intimate.
which he at once suppressed. and for which he
received u written apology from the attachG.
subsequently Mrs. Lawrence went with her son,
| u ~
remaining In this country and II was while
Mrs. Lawrence WAS abroad that the acquaintance
with Nanden Nest WAS renewed. Last summer
rumor spread In diplomatic circles, which was
subsequently confirmed tiat Gen. Lawrence
had sailed 20 Europe 70 meet Nanden Nest. ana
that u duel had bern fought without injury TO
either principal in Belgium. There followed
upon Con. Lawrence's return 10 Newport his
petition for n divorce. and now. as the trial ap
proaches some OF tho fncts have become public,
| II is Understood that aifdavts are prepared and
ready 10 be offered in court that tell a story as
follows Iauraupp last nv
9"s 3sntea F Ses M2s RI aSrencc S n GSn
intimate. friends OF his. Mr.. Carroll Living
ston Of New York. and Mr., Bingham willing
| OF Philadelphia. and asked them for such help
IA IA man asks only OF his most trusted
| friends. They were urged. and they promised
TO accompany Gen Lawrence to, Europe. seek
! out Vanden Nest. show him the letter and re-
| quest meeting between him and Gen. Law
renee within ten days in Belgium. This they
den Nest. when confronted with the letter, at
once admitted that he wrote il and announced
that he was ready to accord Gen.
demanded. SO much Of tho above
MS is pertinent 20 tho divorce. proceedings as
Livingston and Mr., Willing. and in tho posses.
| the story OF the duel has developed. 1t was be-
| licyed at the time OF the first report TINT Mr..
Lawrence. but i is now inserted that this, priv,
| ilnge of friendship wds assumed by MIR. Carroll
| Livingston. The Hon. Amedoe Nanden Nest
| was attended 10y cousin. There was but one
| exchange Of shots. Gen. Lawrence fired and
| missed. and the German discharged his pistol
in the air. Il is understood that Mr.. Bennett
| was on the field M one Of the friends Of Gen.
| Lawrence. but not IN the technical capacity.
1t was asserted at the time of the first publlca-
| tlOn of this affair that Mrs Lawrence eloped
| with the German after the duel. but this has
been denied. for she has lived in Paris since
| that time. and when tho divorce proceedings
were first made known to her there were evil
| dences in Newport that her counsel WINS pre-
pairing To make strong defense 1t Is now be-
! lieyed that. while sho will be represented by
! counsel. there will be no opposition 10 a de-
| cree. II is also believed that Gen. Lawrence has
| secured other proof against his wife than tho
| afldavits OF Mr. Livingston and Mr. willing
afford This includes testimony concerning
| impropricty at u hotel in Washington, NJ tho
Pequot House in New London. at Rye Beach.
| and at Newport.
| The suit which. 1t is sNid. Mrs. Taylor the
| motheroi Mrs Lawrence, ethor has for the
| proceedings are conducted with great secrocyl
| or Is about 10 bring against Gon. Lawrence. is
for SO, 900. asserted to have been loaned to Gen.
| Lawrence. Mrs. Taylor Is wealthy. and IL be-
| licved to have looked upon the loan TO Gen.
| Lawrence. when IT WAS made, IA an invest
| ment. For series Of years tho inter-
est was regularly paid Andt the impression seems
| to be that the present suit is brought with
| .