Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-18
THE EVENING STAR
TUESDAY .......M NACn ASs ASSUs
e Lawrence nsw> suit

The Lawrence Divero suit.
TIE CAUSE cp AcTIoN-GBN. LAwKEs. SECURES
pIrokCk AND THE CUSTODY OF TVS 'hi.p.
a special dispatch to the Baltimore syn rom
case OF Gen: Albert Gallatin Lawrence 500 q
hon WIN; beach Lawrence, or Ochre Point.
against his wife. Mrs. Eva Lawrence. me- Tav,,
lor, which has created much comment in society
for some time, was heard before the supreme
court Of Rhode Island; which met here today,
Judge Matteson presiding. The father OF Mrs
Law: enc was Mr.. Joseph Taylor, a brother OF
President zachary Taylor, and who died In
Baltimore since the war; Mrs. Lawrences first
husband was Capt. kingsbury. son OF Major
Kingsbury who was at one time one OF the
wealthieSt citizens OF Chicago. Capt. Kings
bury was an officer on the stan or Gen. Law
Three years later, and after he had lost an arm
at Fort Fisher, Gen. Lawrence was married tn
Mrs. kingsbury. Shortly after the war he
fought bloodless duel with member OF the
foragn legation at Washington, but II has
always been claimed that Mrs Lawrence was
in no way involved. They afterwards resided
In Europe for couple OF years, where IL Is
Deneved She met for the first time German
diplomat named Amade Van den Nest, WAC
Is described as blue eyed, light-ha,rei young
insi,,a anu between whom It was charged an
MS FAMILY to America, and It Is said Van den
Nest followed shortly afterwards Then Law
alleged Van den Nest again renewed his atten
lions to Mrs. Lawrence. Matters finally Ioos
serious turn, and duel enSued upon the dis
covery Ct certain letters from Van den Nest tn
Mrs Lawrence. Mr.. Livingston acted as SECOND
.or Gen Lawrence, whilst Van den Nest was at
tended by cousin. There was but one ex-
missed The German discharged his pistol in
me ar Inc DUEL took place In Belgium Upon
MS return TO the United States Gen. Lawrence
brought his petition for o divorce
In the trial to-day Mr.. Francis r. Peckham
T. represented the plaintiff. Col. Samuel K
Honey the defendant Neither General or Mrs.
In nrf
given solely by Mr.. Isaac Lawrence brother or
plaintiff, Whose principal evidence was that
MIS-. lawrence had had no communication with
her child for over Year, and Miss Marie Klein
Tee chlldS governeSS. The latter stated that
she had been In Gen. Lawrence's family since
me Dirth OF little Oracle, and that she knew
glan legation. with whom Mrs. Lawrence was
charged with having been intimate. She testi-
1ed 10 having known Van den Nest to visit Mrs.
Lawrence late at night at Gray's hotel. Wash.
ington, and at Rye Beach, particularly on July
Is, 1876. At the latter place Mrs. Lawrence aud
van den Nest went for walk that evening
the house, and at midnight Mr.. Van den Nest
came to the window OF Mrs. Lawrence's bed
room, raised IL and crawled In. 81 was In nv
his Sax GoHng ogt =; OF sne window and saw
some time, certainly longer than an hour, for 1
remained at my window that time, and he did
not go away: After that knew OF Mrs. Law
renee receiving Van den Nest in her bedroom
at Grays hotel, washington. Mrs. Lawrence
merely had her dressing-gown on" Witness
testified further that subsequent to this she dis
covered that Mrs. Lawrence and Van den Nest
We're carrying on clandestine correspondence
IN ner (W1tness0 name. She protested against
IL 10 her mistress, who promised to oil Sconttnue
lt: Afterwards, however, letter was brought
addressed to witness which she opened and
found 1t was not for her. A copy was shown
witness and she recognized it. 1t was couched
In the warmeSt terms Of endearment, and was
addressed inside to Mrs. Lawrence, by Van den
Nest The letter she afterwards handed to
Gen. Lawrence.
, Ailidavits made by Carroll Livin ston Of New
York, and Bingham willing OF Philadelphia,
were to the effect that they took this letter to
Van den Nest at his lodgings In London, showed
1t to him, and he acknowledged having written
lt. The affidavit OF Livingston further stated
that Lawrence wanted to call Van den Nest out
Tor having written 1t, and that the secretary OF
legation accepted the challenge and agreed to
De In Belgium In five days. Upon these facts
being made known to the court, and Col. Honey
making no opposition, Judge Matteson immedi-
dence, granted decree OF divorce, and gave
full custody Of the child to the father
IL Is asserted that Mrs. Taylor, mother-in-law
OF General Lawrence, Is about to bring suit
against him for $4,000 borrowed OF her at a
Cme when his married life was happy.
Mrs. Lawrence had one Child, son, by her
first husband. The birth of this son resulted In
singular complication In the settlement OF the
estate OF his father, Capt Ktngsbury. General
simon b. Buckner, brother-in-law OF General
army, conveyed his estates to Capt. Ktngsbury,
in order to prevent their cOnfScation, ft being
understood between the brothers fn-law that
this was merely done for Safekeeping. But the
death OF Captain Kingsbury complicated the
matter, and Buckner did not obtain possession
OF his property until after years OF litigation in
the Illinois courts and the expenditure of a
great deal OF money In counsel fees, &C.