The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-08
Bishop Hurst and Wife Separate

The Washington. d. c.. Times Of
Tuesday says:
IAN arrangement which has lasted
for over year between Bishop John
f. Hurst. prominent divine Of the
NJ f. Church. and his wife, resulted
yesterday in the retaining Of local at.
torneys by r. r. Root, Of Buffalo, n.
Mrs Hurst's brother Mr. Root
said that proceedings for legal separa-
ton will be instituted at once. The
cause given is incompatibility.
1.-THE trouble began in 1898 and short
ly afterward Mrs. Hurst closed her
handsome residence in Massachusetts,
Avenue and sailed for Europe Bishop
Hurst then moved out to one of the
buildings Of the Methodist University.
and has since been living with his
daughter.
Mrs Hurst is the Bishops second
wife. and was married about ten years
ago. She is the daughter Of wealthy
stone manufacturer at Buffalo. Mrs
Hurst is a lady Of much wealth in her
own name She is much younger than
her husband. and 1t is said that the
union never was happy one. Domes-
tic trouble and family disappointmcnts
finally resulted in the separation and
since then the Bishop has lived TO him
self
THE house in Mas-achusetts Avenue,
with the costly furniture. Is the prop
erty Of Mr- Hurst, and this fact. II is
claimed, partly ied up 10 the separation
It was said that the Bishop was given
10 understand that he was not living
in his own home and could be ordered
out whenever his wife so chose. This
and the fact that by her marriage 10 the
Bishop Mrs Hurst became the step.
mother Of three children are said to fur
furnish additional causes the domestic
troubles. No children have resulted
from the union.
d" Mr.. Root, in speaking Of the mat.
ter to Times reporter, stated that
there are no scandals in connection
with the case. His sister, he said, has
tired of living the life Of a separated
wife and desires freedom. She has not
been happy, he states, and her union
with an elderly gentleman was an I'M
happy one. She desires actual and legal
separation, and therefore will go to the
courts for it.
"Bishop Hurst, it is said, owns no
property, and is dependent entirely on
his salary.
&" Bishop Hurst has two sons, one Of
States Consul General at Vienna. The
other is a second lieutenant in the Uni
ted States Army.
Bishop Hurst was born in Salem, Mass
and elected Bishop at the General Con-
ference Of 1880. -
Washington, June s. Records were
made today Of deeds affecting the home
of Bishop and Mrs. John f. Hurst, who
have agreed to separate. The property
was conveyed to Ella Root Hurst, wife
of Bishop Hurst.
This ground and house in which the
Bishop and his wife lived were pur
chased by Mrs. Hurst soon after their
marriage. The building was remOdeled
and a magnificent library added. Mrs.
Hurst then conveyed IN home TO her
husband.
MRS. Hurst is the daughter of the
late Francis II. Root. of Buffalo, who
made big fortune in manufacturing
stoves and specializing in real estate.
Mr.. Root was prominent Methodist
and wished the family name to be as
ISOLATED with that of high leader in
the church. 1t was in compliance with
his wish, that his daughter married
Bishop Hurst, and the marriage took
place at her fathers death bed five
years ago.
Her income is $50, 900 year.
1.-THE Bishop was recently notified
by his wife, lawyers that he must
vacate the beautiful home in Washing
ton by June /, and remove all his per
sOnals belongings. He has done 50.
Mrs. Hurst it is said, will only sue
for divorce in one contingency-if her
husband tries to take away her child,
who is three years old The trouble
between the Bishop and his wife is
said to have been due to money mat
ters. "