The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-31
SENSATIONAL DIVORCE SUIT.
MRS. THOMAS }. LEFTWICH OF At
LANTA ASKS FOR SEPARATION.

Atlanta. Ga. aug. So.-A great sensa-
tIon was created here to-day by the publ
cation OF a lengthy statement 10y Thomas
]. Leftwlch in connection with the fling
of suit for divorce by his wife, Mrs. Ca
milla Leftwich.
Mr. Leftwich is one of the leading at
torneys at the local bar, while his wife
who was Miss Price. a member OF one Of
the best families of Virginia.
Mr. Leftwioh, who came to Atlanta to
practice law about ten years ago, was
especially commended to the people of
this city and section because he was the
son of the Rev DR.. Leftwich, for years
the beloved pastor of the First Presbyte-
rian Church Of this city, and man of
wide reputation and influence. He edu-
Gated his son in both theology and law
and made him a graduate of John Hopkins
University Of Baltimore, where the elder
Leftwich was also stationed in church
work for a time.
The bill for divorce was filed in DeKalb
county yesterday morning the mere facts
of its filing being made known here this
evening.
The details, which are highly sensa-
tionaI, however did not come out until At
torney Leftwich handed them in for pub
HcatiOn this evening.
His wife, who is living in Atlanta at the
Normandie Hotel on Peachtree street,
based her bill upon the ground of infdel-
~ without going into details This Mr..
Leftwich followed by unfolding a story
which is one of the most unique in the
annals of divorce proceedings in this state.
= g.. ~. l. r.
er tells how he has for six years or more
lived a dual life, the fruit of his Illicit
love being two children, the oldest boy
of years and the youngest a girl baby
OF a few months.
These revelations came like thunder
clap in the community, Mr.. Leftwich being
held In the highest estimation in all the
relations of life When he first came 10
this city he took front rank at the har
as the partner of the late Capt. Harry
Jackson, and after his death IN associa-
ton with Judge Howard Van Epps and
G. I. Ladson, under the name Of Van
Fps. LadsOn & Liftwich, he continued in
hold high position.
Here is the gist of Mr.. Ieftwichs uni
que statement: Il do not wish that the
impression should gain ground that 1 nave
anything to conceal with reference to the
proceedings for divorce on the causes
which led up TO it, In early life l mar
ried. The union was an unhappy one for
both parties Where ever the fault may
Die ! have only this to say that some
years ago 1 met and loved the young girl
referred to in the divorce proceedings and
that, thereafter. through many vicissi-
tuds she became the mother Of
my two children. determin-
ed that my duty and only duty
lay TO her and to our children and have
performed that duty and am now perform
ing it to the best Of my ability. l wish
l. Al
apologies 10 offer for my love for her and
that / am not ashame of flesh and blood.
In the same spirit, whatever the obstacles,
! shah continue in the performance of my
duty to the end untl the sevrance of my
present legal relations maks it possible
for me at once to impart 10 my presnt re-
laUonshIp the sanction of the law and the
benediction of the church. That ! should
temporize and clay such a thing a while
a devoted mother stands waiting for that
protection that is her due and
that 1 should turn my back
upon two immortal little souls brought here
by my action, sacrificing all parties con-
cerned TO the demands of an empty and
unnatural Journalism, is a thing 50 horri-
bic in my mind that 1 am utterly unable
to conceive how any human judgement
could require of me any course other
than that ! have taken. 1 have no desire
10 sail under false colors live under
false pretenses and. therefore, take this
occasion 10 acknowledge openly and pub
licly the fact of my relationship and the
paternity of my children at the suggestion
OF friend who has endeared himself to
me by his action in expressively. l Went
before committee of gentlemen of high
est standing in DeKalb county and openly
stated to them the situation in detail and
further stated to them that IT, In their
Judgment, the cause of public morals
would be advanced by my Incarceration, or
by the Incarceration of both of us we
were ready and willing to suffer the fun
extent of any penalty that it might please
the constituted authority to in hict upon
us.
Il do not propose to run from anything,
or TO conceal in any secluded spot either
the woman or the children who are the
objects of my affection, and so / shall
stand until l am shot down, not boast
fully, not dedantly but with the calm as
surance that comes from an inner con-
seiousness that my course is the right one
approved by my own conscience, and
which must appeal to the mind and heart
of every man and woman in whose breast
has not persisted utterly all human in
stincts. The lady in question is mere
girl still and II Is my prayer 10
God that devotion and the best medi-
cal attention may restore her fully
10 physical health and strength in order
that she may live many years to be
and 10 the man who made her IN her early
gfrlhood the mother of a boy now nearly
years of age. and in later years the
mother of an infant now s months Of
age
That should take any other course ana
leave the world free to cast a slur upon
her, to think of her In their ignorance "a
the bearer of the children Of doubt. ana
that / should be denied the right to teach
my children their true and lawful pater-
nifty 10 teach their little lips TO call me
father, is a situation too horrible TO con
template, and. speaking FOR myself as well
as Tor her, We prefer ostracism incar-
ceration, starvation and death itself
would have IL also understood that NV
children are not the children Of brutal
and lustful passion, but are the offspring
of a common love as pure and as lasting
as any that ever prevailed between man
and woman. whatever the sacrifices I may
be called upon to make as the world should
Viz hcr