The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-23
MARRIED HIS OWN CHILD.
A SHOCKING RETALIATION TO BE
MADE IN A DIVORCE COURT

A,rres A. CLARK Poses as tho Guardian OF
His Legitimate Daughter and Finally
wed. ner-A discovery that Nearly
Drox. the Unhappy Girl Mnd-Friends
Take I'm Her Cause and VIII ssceh Justice
LONDON, Dec 22-Polite society is Just now
discussing with bated breath ono OF the most
shocking scandals Of the many that nave SUI
lied It's history. The scandal will soon occupy
the attention OF the Divorce Court In the form
of petition for the nullifcation OF a marriage
which was presented on Dec. IA by the new
Edward A. Chichester. Vicar OF Dorking. sur
rev, on behalf OF most unhappy girl. mo
scandal had its origin IN 1874 when Aline
Marian de Hoghton. the unmarried daughter
OF Sir Henry de Hoghton. Baronet. head OF an
ancient and noble family was delivered. IN
Milan, Italy OF a female child. tho father OF
which was Alfred Aurelus Clark, wealthy
man who moves in the highest society ana
whose name figures in the Court Directory.
Clark refused to marry his victim. Ihe pirth
OF the child was kept secret and the mother
returned to society. nobody being the wiser as
to her shame.
She married in January 1879. an irish eoh-
tleman OF good family named Fitzgerald. she
spent tho greater part OF her time uht'i nor
death, a few years ago. on tho Continent Her
reason to believe that the mother heavily dow
cred her daughter born at Milan. 1t is not
DISPUTED, at any rate. that Clark posed beiore
tho world as tho girls guardian. Every caro-
was taken with the girls education. when
until flvo years ago was received mainly IN
France and Italy.
In 1887 Clark brought his illegitimate
daughter from French nunnery to Little
Hampton. where they lived at tho Beach Hotel
as guardian and ward No pains or expense
we're spared in perfecting the young girl OF -
in various accomplishments. French ana
Italian she smoke naturally and perfectly and
special teachers were engaged for music ana
English. the supposed guardian taking
keen and apparently fatherly interest in her
progress This life with occasional trips to
neighboring places ana a short school term at
Clever near Windsor. continued until lS'h
when the Guardians wife died. Some months
afterwurd he proposed marriage to his sup
posed ward and actual daughter. and was ac-
cepted
Tho marriage took place In London. and
father and daughter thenceforward lived to-
gether as man and wife. In March. 1902. the
girl then only IS years bf age. gnvc birth to a
baby boy. and In July following the unhappy
child In other discovered that her guardian was
not only her husl and but also her own father
ana tho lutner OF ntE infant uisS''~
cry nearly deprived her OF reason. She was
practically rriendless. The fact OF the marriage
had been kept secret. Clark's own two leCit-
innate daughters. with whom he resided in q
charming mansion in kensinGton. knew moth
ing OF it, and he and his dauChter-wife had
lived in another house.
Every effort was made by Clark to coerce
the girl into remaining with him. but she reSo-
lutey refused. and finally obtained the shell
ter OF family. some members OF which had
assisted in her education. These people.
after grave consideration. placed tho matter
before the Row. Mr. Chichester. gentleman
we'll known for his benevolence and probity.
and he took the girls cause into his hands.
1t is believed that Clark relies upon the diff
Guilty that exists of probing that he was other
than the guardian of TIE girl. as tho birth OF
the child in Milan in 1874 was. for obvious
reasons. kept absolutely secret, and adequate
legal proof tthe fact will, Soconseauence be
very hard to obtain. Clark ". 81 London to-
day. although there we're rumi, xhat he had
fled the country.