Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-23
RUINED FOB LIFE.
A TaIe OF the TImes-A Fair Ameri-
can infatuated by Foreigner
A Wife and II other Divorced
from her Husband mad
Separate from her
Child.

from her Husband mad
Separate from her
Child.
NEWPORT, R. l., March 18.-Generai
Albert q. Lawrence was granted decree OF
divorce from his wife, Eva Lawrence, yester-
day, no defense being made by Mrs. Law
renee sscounsel. The decree was made out
In its usual way, with the following addi-
ton: And it Is ordered, adjudged and de-
creed that the aforesaid Albert q. Lawrence
have the sole custody, care and keeping of
The before named minor child, Esther GracIe
Lawrence" This case has attracted consid- |
cradle attention throughout the country from
the high soci al standing Of the parties. Cen
eral Lawrence Is the son of Ex Governor
William Beach Lawrence, of Rhode Islaud
who is widely known as an authority on in
{, rnatIonal law. Mrs Lawrence IS a grand
niece of General Zachary Taylor, and was the
widow of Captain Kingsley when General
L ,wreDc7 married Der. Captain Kings
ley was killed at Antietam, and was
re vrug at the time on General Lawrence's
staff He was the heir, with a sister and
brother, to great wealth. principally in Chi
cago real estate. The sister was married to
General Simon b. BuckDer, of the Confeder-
ate army. Alter Captain kjIgsley's death |
his widow went to Baltimore with her son,
then child OF three years, and resided with |
neE UlOtLtE. OeHGIGl LlHItHCC renamed at |
the head of his command until 50 severely
wounded while leading a charge at Fort
Fisher that his life was despalred of. He re-
covered, with the loss OF one arm, and with
scars of wounds upon his other arm and on |
mis- neck. He was married at his tat her s resi- |
dence IN Newport to Captain Kingsley's |
widow on February %, 1865, and Is said to |
have lived very happily with his wife until
some time IN 1915. Much of their tima was
passed In Washington during the winter sea-
son, while the summer months were spent "a
Newport, Rye Beach and at the Pequot house |
IN New London. They also lived year or |
more IN Enrope. General Lawrence, after |
the waC, spent much OF his time In caring Tor |
the estate of his wife and son, which came TO |
them through Captain Kingsley. There were |
complcs tons In the settlement of this estate. |
owing to the fact that General Buckcer had. |
when ctsriug the Confederate service, trans |
ferred b 6 property to lis broiber-in- law Can
tain hi esley, to prevent colfscation. |
Captain Dgsley recognized this as a trust |
estate merely IN the will that he drew m |
Just before the battle Of Autietam. But the |
Will was declared invalid, aud therefore the |
whole property, estimated at several mil |
lions, went to Mrs Kingsley and fine SON |
Generai Buckner brought suit |
for the property, and offered thc will to prove
that Captain Kingsley held the estate ID trust
only, and ne won the suit. Still there was a
large property lett for Captain Kiugsley's
heir. In 1875 General Lawrence accepted |
an appointment from General Grant to serve
on commission that went to the Black Hills,
and 1t is alleged that 1t was during his alb
sence that Mrs. Lawrence became uudulv in
innate with Amedee Van den Nest, the sec
rotary OF the Belgian legation at Washing
ton. General Lawrence for a long time Is
said to have been IN ignorance Of the loss Of
his wite's affections, but IN the summer of
1877, While In New LoRdon, he was obliged
4,N,fizr TO C-l i 7
acquaintance with Mrs. Lawrence The in
timacy was renewed, and during his absence
from Newport IN the winter of 1873, Mrs.
Lawrence sailed for Europe, and was fol-
lowed by Van den Nest, who obtained 4 leave
of absence. He was subst qucntly dismissed
the diplomatic service. General Lawrence
became satisfied that his wife intended to
com promising letters In Van den Nest s hand
writing. These letters were submitted 10
Mr.. Carroll Livingston, of New York, and
Mr.. Brigham Willing, of Philadelphia, who
were personal friends of General Law.
renee. They accepted a delicate mis-
ing Van den Nest In London, showed INN
the letters, and demanded either an acknowl-
adgment or denial from him of being their
author. He admitted that he wrote them,
and corsented to meet General lawrence, |
who had also sailed for Europe, on the field.
2 few miles from Brussels, within ten days
The meeting took place. Mr.. Carroll Living
ston acted as General Lawrence's friend. and
a cousin of Van den Nests performed the
same office for him. 1t Is also understood
that MIR. James Gordon Bennett was on the
field. General Lawrence is reported to have
tired first, without effect and Van den Nest
then discharged his pistol in the air There
was no other exchange Of shots. General
Lawrence returned to Newport ia September,
and at once began the suit that was heard
to-day. 1t has been understood that Mrs.
Lawrence would make no defense, In case
only sufficient evidence was offered to secure
the divorce. Mrs. Lawrence has been living
since the duel IN Paris. Ia the divorce trial
on Monday, Isaac Lawrence testified as fol-
lows: II am the brother of Albert G. Law
renee, the plaintiff In this suit. | know him
and his wife. They resided at my fathers
house, Oohre Point, for FIVE or six years. Nv
brother has resided there since February of
last year. | have not seen his wife for nearly
two years. | have seen their child. The
mother has had no cor nunication With
1t for over year. l was informed
last year that Mrs. Lawrence had
left her hotel in New York and
gone abroad. have not seen Mrs. Lawrence
and the general together for d long time,
certainly not since February, 1873. If the
mother and child had had any communion
ton | should have known it." Marie Klein.
an intelligent-looking young woman of TWEEN
Ly-elght years OF age, testified in a clear
voice, but with decided French accent, at
some length, that she had been governess to
General Lawrence's child since its birth; that
she knew Mr.. Van den Nest to visit the de-
PENDANT late at night at Gray's hotel, Wash
pgton. She said that In 1875 and In 1876
she went TO Rye Beach with Mrs. Lawrence.
and that Van den Nest followed them there
each year. In 1875 he used to visit Mrs.
Lawrence in the parlor of the Rye Bach
house, and remain until one or two o'clock
n the morning. Olher parts of her tssti-
nony pointed clearly to the criminal intl-
macy. At New London. two years ago, the
general forbade Mr.. Van den Nest TO visit
lis wife. After that she discovered through |
| friend, that Mr. Van den Nest was sending
elegrams and letters to Mrs Lawrence in
Ter (~ltness > name. She told Mrs. Law
ence to discontinue it, but atterward wit
less received letter addressed 10 Der name.
'ut 1t did 70. belong to her. Plaintiff s |
ounsei handed her a paper, ana witness |
ecoguized it as coy of the original letter
he had received. 1t read as follows.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. :
My DEAREsT-MTs. Turnbull has Just told me that |
70 must hove left to-day for Newport What are
on going to do? | wish etud know how to see
stter wrote you on Sunday Fray foTeWe me- a. ami Iig
ont be any longer angry. l love you, and want (
red of waiting. Tell ma that you love me- ana that
Oh are coming to make me happy, and will give | ,
u career. ana We Will 90 away and travel
cate somewhere 1 Will regret nothing with you, | I
nd l will have nothing more to wish Tor. can ]
aTey admit the thought of living without you. =
am almost crazy with wishes for you. Don't | |
eep me responsible for my tlItemper. think that
am never mad but away from you Why did you |
lake me love you so much? Please answer this at {
nee Mail the answer to the hotel, that may ave
Friday. Be kind and coed to me. will love you I
D much hate the life l lead. Tell where / | /
ould see you. 1 want you; want you. Your own,
iithfuly.
There was no signature. This concluded
ne examination of Miss Klein, and COUNSEL '
" Ptckham then read the affidavit of Mr..
arrol Livingston, which proved that he !
ook the original Of this letter to Mr.. Van i
en- Nest, in London, and that gentlemen {
ckn owledRed having written it This was
ne plaintiffs case, and the decree was
ranted as above.
Democratic Discipline. !
HARRIsBURG, PA, March 18.-A promi-
ent senator, who represents one of the
.rgest Democratic districts il the State, re- I
armed from Washington to-day. Referring I
D the Randall Wallace fight, he says that