The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-14
The Jersey Lily Has at Last
Severed the Bonds
Which United Her to Edward
Langtry 21 Years Ago.
HAD BEEN A GOOD WIFE
She Said in Her Petition, and
it Was Not Denied.
California Court Gives Her
Liberty and Her Daughter.

Lakeport, Cal, May 14.-Emilie Char
Iotte Langtry, better known throughout
the hemisphere as the Jersey Lily, has
secured divorce from her English
husband. The decree was given her
nec much sought freedom from matri-
monlal fetters was signed by Judge
Crump yesterday. 1t was all done very
quietly, default being entered against
the foreign defendant, who failed to file
ueIenSe IN the time allowed by the
california code. While all the legal
1ormaIttes were complied with, no one
except those actually interested in the
delicate matter were present. Henry
Z. McPike, who appeared for the plain
TN, was armed with a number of depo-
sitiOns taken in England and America
intended to convince the court that Ed
ward LanStry had deserted his fair
wife.
That of the plaintiff was to the eff
feet that she married Mr.. Langtry on
the island of Jersey in 1876, and that
the marriage certificate gave evidence
that the lady was 20 years of age and
Langtry was "A. The defendant gave
as his place of business Scotland while
Mrs. Langtry said she was born in
Jersey. The witnesses of the cere-
mony We're Mr.. and Mrs. LIE Breton,
the lady'S parents. Mr.. LIE Breton, who
was a duly ordained minister of the
Church of England, Officiated. After
their marriage a daughter was born
and named Jeanne. At the time of the
taking of the deposition in 1896 this
cnlId was 10 years OF age and has al
ways resided with her mother.
Mrs. Langtry testified that her huS-
band had deserted her a number OF
years ago.
From that time to date, the lady tes-
titled, he had not furnished her nor her
child with any means of support, but,
to emphasize his desertion, has declared
on 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 pursuing that occupation for a
number of years past.
In 1896 she came to California, and,
taking a fancy to the climate, she pro-
cured a. house in San Francisco upon
Twenty first street hill, taking the
might have an opportunity to look
around and select a location for per-
manent home. She finally secured a
large tract of land near AIiddletown in
the southeastern part of Lake county,
and took up her residence there. She
spent a portion of the money she made
on the stage for Improvement. From
this legal and financial showing the
lady turns to her matrimonial expert
ences, saying in one sentence: 4 have
always treated Mr.. Langtry with affec-
ton. never giving him cause to diSre-
gard his duty toward me as my hus-
band
In conclusion she asked that the Gus
tody of the daughter, Jeanne, be award
ed her. Sir George Lewis, Mr.. James
w. Smyth PigOt, Captain A. w. Will
hanson, Emily Davis LIE Breton and
Clement lie Breton, the mother and
father, testified on the point of deser-
ton by Mr.. Langtry and as to her be-
ing a resident of California
Judge Crump signed the decree, find
ing that Edward Langtry had been
duly served with the summons, had
failed to answer and was in default