Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-01-29
FOREIGN MARRIAGES.
Trials OF a Chicago Woman Who Now
Neither Maid, wife, Nor Widow.

Trials OF a Chicago Woman Who Now Is
Neither Maid, Wife, Nor Widow.
Another illustration Of the dangers at.
tending marriages between foreigners
and Americans, when the latter are ig-
norant Of the legal formalities required
in Europe to render the union valid, is
furnished by the case of young and
charming widow we'll known in Chica-
go. About five years ago she made the
acquaintance Of Lieutenant de Servan,
one Of the most distinguished officers of
the French navy, who gained the off,
GERS cross Of the Legion of Honor for
the great gallantry which he displayed
during the instruction in New CAL
edonia. Like many other off,
GERS Of his rank, he accept
ed in 1882 temporary engagement
as captain or first officer of one of the
French transatlantic liners, and it was
while acting as such that he first met
the lady in question, who was a passen-
ger on board his vessel. The acquaint-
ance soon ripened into intimacy and
love, and a few weeks later M. de Ser
van and the young widow were mar
ried in London by an American clergy
man of New York. The bride was ig-
norant Of the fact that the consent of
NJ. de Servants parents, granted in prop
or legal form, was necessary to render
her marriage valid according to French
law, and her husband took no pains to
enlighten her Of the subject.
Shortly after the wedding, which took
place on June 81, 1884, M. dc Servan OBJ
tasD nvpap Ia 10
ship Company an appointment as naval
superintendent at ST. Nazaire, where he
took up his residence with his wife.
They lived happily enough for
time but in 1887 serious
quarrel took place between them,
and M. de Servan obtained his
transfer to Nantes, leaving her
in Nazaire. A few months later, hav-
ing in the meanwhile became infatuated
with the beauty and fortune Of Mile.
de Dorides, Of Nanter, he began proceed
ings to obtain, not decree of divorce,
but an annulment of his marriage, on
the ground that consent Of his parents
had not been obtained, and that tho
ceremony of marriage had been per-
formed by an American clergyman in a
country where neither Of the contracted
parties was at home. Before the case
had ever come up for hearing M. de
Servan caused the bans Of his marriage
with Mile. dc Dorides to be pub
ished at Paris and Nantes. On
reading the announcement thereof
in the newspapers the American
Nine. de Servan Immediately wrote
to tho mayor Of Nantes, explaining her
position, and demanding that he should
refuse to permit any further publication
of the bans to be made at the Hotel de
Vile. The mayor gave way to her re-
quest and forbade both the publication
OF the bans and the celebration of the
marriage with Mile. de Dorides until
the courts had pronounced their verdict
as to the validity of the London mar
rage. Last week the Judgment was
given in the case to the effect that the
ceremony performed in London did not
constitute legal marriage according to
French law, and that the American lady
who had borne the name Of De Servan
had no just claim to IL. The court,
moreover, declared that under the cir
cumstances no legal obstacle existed to
M. de Servants marriage with Mile. dc
Dorides, and the wedding took place at
once. The unfortunate American, whose
case has excited much sympathy
throughout France, Is about to return
to Chicago, her position in this country
having become unbearable. Paris Cor.
N. Y. Tribune.