Evening journal., 1891-03-04
BURKE-R0CHE CASE ENDS
MRS. ROCHE GRANTED a DEGREE
OF ABSOLUTE DIVORCE.

AuceHtrf-A OF tho Gaho
The decision in the now famous Burke
Roche case was given in the Superior
Court yesterday and printed in an extra
edition of the EVENING JOURNAL
Frances Burke-Roche was granted a
decree of absolute divorce from her hus-
bard, James Boothby Burke Roche, the
scion OF the house Of Fermoy, aud sprig
OF English nobility. Mrs. Roche was
given the exclusive right and care Of
her three children.
The decree was signed by Associate
Judges Houston and Cullen only, Chief
Justice Comegys not concurring. Elk
Secretary Thomas +. Bayard. who was
one Of the counsel in the case, was In
court during portion OF the forenoon,
but left about II o'clock at which time
the documentary decision was sent down
to the prothoDotary's office The fact
that q decree was granted was known
only to a few persons, and the
members Of the bar aud press
remained in court until 80 o'clock
waiting for a decision At that time
decisions In other divorce cases were
handed down to counsel by the court and
there was an air Of expectancy among
newspGpermen which was somewhat
chilled when it was found that the
Burke Roche case was not included
among the others. whisper passed
around that the decision had been
given hours before, and a dash
was at once made for the pro-
thonotary's Office. where the rumor
was confirmed. The reason why, it is
said, the decision was not handed down
in the ordinary way. was because Of the
non agreement Of the chief justice with
the decision OF the associate Judges
The decree signed by Associated Judges
Houston ana Cullen set forth that the
finding of the commissioner having been
considered by the court. aud the court
being satisfied with the evidence on which
the award Of the commissioner was made,
it found that James B Roche willfully
neglected his wife and failed to SUI ply
her with the necessaries Of life for more
than three years before the fling of a
petition for divorce The court therefore
considered that the marriage ought to be
dissolved, and the parties named were
divorced from the bonds of matrimony
and separated accordingly.
1t further adjudged that Frances
Burke Roche be granted the sole and ex.
clusi care OF her three children, Cynthia
Burke Roche, Edmund Maprice Burke
Roche and Francis George Burke Roche
and that the respondent James B Roche,
pay the costs of the case amounting to
S2s1 IS.
No case has for many years created
more comment and caused a greater
furore than has the case which has just
been decided Before her marriage Mrs
Burke Roche, then Miss Frances Work,
was considered to be one of the hand
soonest girls in New York society. She
is tall and grace FIJI, with remarkably fine
eyes and a clear. delicate complexion
Mr.. Burke-Roshe is also said to be hand
some, well-bnilt man, six feet tall and a
typical English clubman.
When he sought the beautiful Miss
| Work it was represented that not only
did the blue bleed of aristocracy fow in
his veins. but that he also possessed
ample means wherewith to keen q wife
This last fact Mr.. Work found to be
untrue
While Mr.. Roche neither smoked nor
drank, he possessed IL Is said an insatia
bl passion for gambling, and his father
In laws money was sQuandeFed by him
at the gaming table faster than he could
get it. No question of improperly on
his part Is otherwise alleged during the
time his wife remained in England
At first Mr. Work made his daughter
an annual allowance Of $1,000 a year.
which was increased subsequently, to
$12, 600 and in no year did sfe receive
less than $l4. 600. Notwithstanding this
bebts accumulated and their household
effects we're attached
Mrs Roche first came to Delaware in
May, 1889, and lived for time on Van
Buren, street near Seventh. The curiosity
of the people annoyed her and she re-
moved to 1913 West street, where she
still resides In September, 1890, the
divorce was filed and Senator George
Gray and b. H. Ward retained by her as
counsel. subsequently Levi O. Bird was
also retained. and later still the services
of Mr. Bayard, in the absence Of Mr.
Gray were secured. Mr.. Bayard's speech
on the day motion for decree was made
was master piece Of orotorY.
The Roche's are descended from
Edmund Burke, the great Irish orator
and statesman of the last. century, whose
brilliant impeachment Of Warren Hast
ings, is yet one Of the finest things in the
English language Edmund Burke is yet
regarded as the greatest commoner that
ever sat in the House Of Commons He
was under the Fox administration, com
missioner of income tax for the state Of
| New York, and his bold aud PATRIOTS
defence of the revolt Of the American
colonies, produced for him many enemies
among bis English colleagues. The name
Burke is pre6xed to that OF Roche in
honor Of their e. eat ancestor.
The title of Lord Fermoy was con-
ferred by Lord Palmerston on this mans
father in 1856. In return for some politi-
cal services The title is now held BY his
elder brother. He has not a seat in the
House of Lords
MRS. Roche's Home.
Mrs. Frances Roche lives at 1923 west
street. The h luses il that row are new
aud conform to modern architectural
ideas. A front porch with a
deep bay window suggests q pleasant
reading place in warm weather and leads
to the double front door
The interior of the house
is more handsomely flushed than Will
mington residents are wonB to see. but
it confirms entirely Within tastes Of the
fair owner. The upholstery is magrdf.
cent, while the soft colors of the rooms
lend a splendid quiet effect
Mrs. Roche has been a member Of ST..
Andrews Church ever since she came to
this city Shs occupies the front pew in
the south centre block and frequently
has the three pretty children
with her. They are generally dressed
alike Mrs. Roche may send them to her
fathers house in New York for
short visits, but will retain
I A. al T.