The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-15

Lake Port, Cali. May 14-Emilie
Charlotte Langtry, better known
throughout two hemispheres as 1.-The
Jersey Lily" has secured divorce from
her English husband The decree that
gives her her much sought freedom from
matrimonial letters was signed by Judge
r. W. Crump yesterday. I. was all
done very quietly. a default being en-
tered against the foreign defendant, who
had failed 20 file defense in the time
allowed by the California code.
While all the legal formalities were
compiled with no one except those ac-
tually interested in the delicate matter
were present
Henry c. McPike, who appeared for
the plaintiff, was armed with a number
OF dispositions taken in England and
America intended to convince the court
that Edward Langrry had deserted his
fair wife.
That Of the plaintiff was to the effec.
that she married Mr.. Langtry on the Is
land Of Jersey in 1876, and that the mar
riage certificate gave evidence that the
lady was twenty years OF age and that
Lang,ry was twenty-four. The defend
ant gave as his place of birth Scotland.
while Mrs. Langtry said she was born
in Jersey. The witnesses Of the cere-
mony were Mr.. and Mrs. LeBreton. the
lady's parents. Mr.. LeBreton, who was
a duly ordained minister of the church
Of England, OBLIGATED. During their
marriage a daughter was born and
named Jeanne. At the time Of the taxi
ing of the deposition. in 1886. this child
was Is years Of age. and has always re-
sided with her mother.
Mrs. Langtry testified that her hus-
band had deserted her number of years
ago. From that time to date, the lady
testified. he has not furnished her nor
her child with any means OF support,
but, to emphasize his desertion, has de-
clared on a number Of occasions that he
would not return 20 his wife. Thus
thrown on her own resources, she had
taken to the stage for livelihood, and
had been pursuing that occupation for a
number of years past.
In 1856 she came TO California, and,
a house in San Francisco upon Twenty
first street hill, taking the house for a
year, In order that she might have an
opportunity to look around and select q
location for permanent home. She fin
ally secured large tract Of land near
Middletown, in the southeastern part Of
Lake county. and took up her residence
there. She spent a portion OF the mo-
ney she made on the stage for improve
ments.
From this legal and financial showing
the lady returns to her matrimonial ex-
periences, saying in one sentence: "
have always treated Mr.. Langtry with
affection. never giving him cause to dis
regard duty toward me as my husband"
In conclusion she asked that the Gus
tody of the daughter Jeanne, be award
ed to her.
Sir George Lewis, Mr.. James W.
Smythe Pigot, Captain A. W. Wilham-
son, Emily Davis Lebreton and Clement
LeBreton. the mother and father. testi-
fled on the point Of desertion by Mr..
Langtry and as to her being a resident
OF California.
Immediately on the closing OF the hear
ing, on motion Of Attorney McPike, all
the papers were sealed. in accordance
with the law respecting divorce cases.
For several hours Judge Crump studied
over the points Of the hearing in the re-
tirement OF his chamber. Then he sign
ed the decree. finding that Edward Lam
gtry had been duly served with sum-
mons, had failed 10 answer and was IN
default.