Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-04
ROMANCE OF A DIVORCE,
The story of Mrs. NackIin's Marriage
to Hr. Hsedner i'm Brooklyn.
from the New York World. June I'd.

from the New York World, June ID
The marriage of Charles Q. Hedncr and Mrs.
Richard tombstone Macklin, of Brooklyn has
been annulled under circumstances of an extra
ordinary character. Owing to the prominence
OF all the persons Interested the legal proceed
in9s were conducted with the greatest secrecy.
ana the facts connected with the remarkable
case have only just come to light. The grounds
Tor the action were that when Mrs. Maci,lin
married her first husband was living. and il is
alleged that he is now alive and residing with a
second wife in Brooklyn. On the other hand,
Mrs. Hedner and Mr.. Mackiin. when placed or
the stand. swore that they had never seen each
other before, notwithstanding which numerous
witnesses. who knew Mr. and Mrs Macklin,
swOre positively to the identity of Macklin.
The case is believed 10 have no parallel in the
history OF divorce proceedings in the courts OF
Kings county.
Mrs. Macklin was young wife and The mother
of one child when. in 1862. her husband, Richard
Johnstone Mackiin, enlisted in the Union army.
She heard from him at intervals for more than
a year. and then there was long silence. and at
the expiration of several months she received in
telliCcncc of his death.
Airs. Mackl;n donned widows weeds. and
while mourning her husbands death her child
died. She then took up her residence with her
friends and lived quietly until 1873. when she re-
ceiveG the attentions of Mr.. HeGner. we'll
hilUN II u NlutWeT WIFI StNeIdl
children The courtship extended over period
of eleven months, during which time Mr.. He'd
ncr was fully informed rs to Mrs. Mackns for
mer marriage. and. In lS1i-cleven years aft er
Machlin's reported death-they We're married.
Nothing happened to mar their domestic
peace and happiness until two years ago. when
Mr.. Hedncr informed her that Macklin was liy-
ing in the Brooklyn suburbs with wife and
family. Investigation proved that a man
named Richard J. NacklIn did live i'm Brooklyn
as stated. and also that he left the city about
1862 and joined the army. When testifying be-
fore the referee. however. he swOre that he had
never seen Mrs Hedner; that lie was single
man when he joined the army and that he mar
rlcd on his return for The first time. and had
since been a resident of Brooklyn and made no
concealment of his marriage. Mrs Hedner
when sworn, i'll the most solemn manner called
on God to witness that she hal never seen Mr.
Macklin in her life, and when the two were con-
fronted with each other neither was in the
slightest manner disconnected, and repeated
their denials Of ever having met before.
Former friends and acquaintance of both how
ever. swOre that they had been married, and
were positive as to their identity.
After a long investigation and careful con-
sideration the referee decided that the prepOn-
derance of testimony was against the defendant
and passed an order, which was approved in
the Brooklyn city court, annulns the mar
riagc. Mrs. Hedler had no children by her
second marriage. and though her friends were
prepared to aid her in carrying the case to a
higher court, she concluded to accept the de-
cislOn as final.