The herald., 1897-05-15
HE FILED NO DEFENSE
AND SO THE LILY TAKES HER
DECREE n
TSEWN
STS-Ts
Mrs. Langtry Gets Rid Of Her English
Husband on the Ground of
Desertion

LAKEPORT, Cal, May 4.-Emilie
Charlotte Langtry, better known
throughout two hemispheres as the "Jer-
sey Lily" has secured a divorce from
her English husband. The decree that
gives her her much-eought freedom
from matrimonial fetters was signed by
Judge r. w. Crump yesterday. 1t was
all done very quietly, default being en-
tered against the foreign defendant,
who had failed to file defense in the
time allowed by the California code.
While all the legal formalties were
complied with, no one except those
actually interested in the delicate mat
ter were present. Henry c. McPike, who
appeared for the fair plaintiff, sub
mitted dispositions taken in England
and America intended to demonstrate
to the court that Edward Langtry had
deserted his fair wife. THAT of the
plaintiff was to the effect that she mar
ried Mr.. Langtry on the isle of Jersey
in 1876, and the marriage certificate gives
evidence that the Lily was twenty years
of age and Mr.. Langtry twenty-four
The defendant gave as his place of birth
Scotland while Mrs. Langtry said she
was born in Jersey.
| The witnesses of the ceremony were
Mr.. and Mrs Lebreton, the ladys father
and mother.
| Mr.. Lebreton, who was duly ordained
minister of the Church of England, Of
| ficiated. During their marriage a
daughter was born, and named Jeanne.
| At the time of the taking of the deposi-
tion in 1896 this child was Is years old,
and has always resided with her mother.
Mrs. Langtry testified that her husband
had deserted her a number of years ago
| From this time to date, the lady testi-
| fed he has not furnished her or her child
with any means of support but to en-
phasize his desertion had declared on a
number of occasions that he would not
return to his wife. Thus thrown on her
own resources, she had taken to the
stage for livelihood and had been pur-
suing that occupation for number of
Iyears past.
| In 1886 she came to California, and
| taking a fancy to the climate, procured
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
a location for a permanent home. She
finally secured large tract of land near
Middletown, in the southeastern part of
Lake county, and took up her residence
there. She spent portion of the money
made on the stage for improve ments.
From this legal and financial showing
the lady returns to her matrimonial ex-
perience, saying in one sentence: 'I
have always treated Mr.. Langtry with
affection, never giving him cause to dis
regard his duty toward me as my hus-
| band"
| In conclusion, she asked that the Gus
| tody of the daughter Jeanne be awarded
| to her.
Sir George Lewis, Mr.. James w.
Smyths Pigot, Captain A. W. William
son, Emily Davis Lebreton and Clement
Lebreton, the mother and father, testi-
fled ol the point of 'desertion by Mr..
Langtry and as to he" being q resident
of California.
Immediately on the conclusion Of the
hearing, on motion of Attorney McPike
all the papers in the case were sealed, in
accordance with law respecting divorce
cases. For several hours Judge Crump
studied over the points of the hearing
in the retirement of his chambers. Then
he signed the decree, finding that I'd
ward Langtry had been duly served with
the summons, had failed to answer, and
was in default