The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-27
GORDON A'kAY'S GIFT
One Million Dollars to His
Divorced Wife
ON THE DAY SHE WE'D
Baron Won Bruening--lnside
History of the Case.

New York. April 2S-The Journal says;
The marriage in Washington last week
of Mrs. Gordon Mckay 10 the Baron AL
fred Won Bruening, of Germany, is a re-
markable story of love in this age Of
greed. Twelve years Gordon Mckay. Bos-
tons aged white haired multimill.onaire
manufac turer of machines went 10 Wash
ington 10 live with his young bride. Sne
was forty-five years younger than he was.
There was a misunderstanding about some
lobbying, with a woman at the bottom of
it. In a moment Of righteous indignation
Mrs. Mckay divorced her husband. In
a moment OF extreme bitterness he re-
pud.ated the birthright of her two boys.
But no cross suit was brought against
her, and every year he gave her S25,eo0
to spend. He has sent her flowers; he
has sent her wine; he has sent her jewels
constantly ever since. In fact he loved her
dearly and has been trying to WOO her
back ever since her divorce was got. Six
months ago her engagement was announc-
ed to Baron Won Bruening. Tuesday she
became his baroness. Perhaps as little
token of atonement for the slight he cast
upon her boys-probably because he loved
her better than anything on earth-Gor-
don Mckay sent her a wedding present
s., 900, 900.
Last Tuesday in Washington Mrs. Cor
don Mckay became the Baroness Alfred
Won Bruening.
Gordon Mckay, her ex-husband, the rich
old Massachusetts inventor and manu-
facturer. was not at the wedding nor was
he at the wedding breakfast But the
two sons were-the sons which he repu-
dated.
He sent a wedding present.
1t was 100000,
1t is strange story-this story Of Cor
don Mckay and his wife, who married the
Baron Won Bruening Tuesday.
1t was not surprising that the marriage
Of this beautiful American woman TO the
titled German diplomat was a most bril-
liant affair. Nor was it at all surprising
that 1t was a wedding of state, at which
the gold lace Diplomatic Corps were pre-
sent, since it was known that the Ger
man Emperor had given his personal APP
proval of this union of hearts and nations.
Amid such splendor and show even the
nobleman husbands gifts to his bride of
a priceless set of family diamonds in an
tique settings was not marvelied at.
But what was surprising and unusual
was the gift of 100000 from her former
husband. There was a mystery about it
that no one at the wedding could solve
except the bride, and she did not choose
to do so.
Here is the inside history of this ro-
ton, which led up to an ex-husband giving
100000 as wedding present when his
ex-wige took another husband.
Twelve years ago Gordon Mckay. who
has made a vast fortune out Of his sewing
machine his heeliug machine his stitch
and his metallic fastener. came to Wash
ington with his young wife. She was at
least forty-five years his junior. She was
regarded as beautiful Even now in all
the reports of her wedding 10 the baron
she is described as the most beautiful wo-
man in Washington.
They selected for their residence the
house where afterward Dupuy de LONE
was to liv and write the famous letter
which played 50 important part in his
tory. Nothing that wealth could lavish
was spared on the beautifuu young wife
To make the home complete there were two
little boys. Hospitality set in the door
way. There were no end Of riches. There
was the finest fruits: and there were the
finest wines. And there. was beauty at
the head of the table.
The Mckay house soon became the cen
tire Of entertainments on a Gorgeous scale. |
Whatever Mrs. Mckay did she did charm
ingly. She was rich and beautiful, and |
she was born TO be a hostess. As to Mr.. !
had other things to think |
about. He was very proud Of his wife and |
her beauty. but in between times, there |
were neutrality-suspicious. mingled with 9TH
er thoughts-of the sewing machine, the |
heel.ng machine and the metallic fasten-
ing machine He had many irons in the |
fire.
One iron in the fire had something 70 DO /
with a claimf0r agreatdealofmoneyw which |
he wanted 70 get passed favorabiy By Con- |
gress Somebody happened TO mention 70
him that IL was quttet thu thing in W ash
.ngton at just such a juncture 10 call n
the service Of a bright. clever woman
It was whispered in mis- ear. too. that the
success OF the undertaking was greatly
enhanced = the woman, added to all Else.
could boast Of a good social position. The
advice seemed good. Gordon Mckay list
zned;o il as If the Rhenisn sailors listened
10 the coreiel A fate would have il she
la71ened 10 be one Of tae guests VINO fre-
7uentlv SAT az tha table Of b nlse.f and rs
wife. Delcateiy the matter was preached
10 her. Shs listened She listened she
vas COY. sae thought it over. And she
finally consented - Fry 20 undertake 70
- the bin through Congress That vas
AZ least the explanation given before the
,0u-- when the famous divorce proceed
ngsoe-7vean 3l-. and Mrs Gordon Mckay
COX place. i Wa an explanation. hoF-
.ve- wa.ca the beautiful young VIE aP-
lare1-ly did not believe
whether she believes il today no one can
az
The Gordon Mckay divorce case ere
ted xhat s. generally described IS
-resr sensation. some q IS most int
nate secrets have never leaked 1st. TIE
sse was conducted bea.n5 closed daozs-
i Woodbury. B.a.-, nemoer q one
2 -ha eldest families IL ire District =
ard a4-.a