The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11
STRANGE STORY OF DIVORCE.
English Case That surpasses In Vow
city Anything of American Origin.

city Anything of American Origin.
In the divorce division yesterday Justice
Bucknill had before him the petition of
capt William Augustus Adams an off,
Ger In the Fifth lancers, for a divorce by
reason of the adultery OF his wife with
man named Bell. There was no defense
In 1890 or 1891 the petitioner made the
acquaintance of Mrs. Howard kingscote
whose husband was then the commander
II the Oxfordshire light infantry In 1894
Mrs. kingscotte communicated to the petit
TONER that a lady who was a connection
OF hers had got into very great trouble
and was liable TO bankruptcy and criminal
proceedings. and that the only way in
which this relative could be relieved from
her desperate position was to become a
married woman. Mrs. Kingscote desired
cant. Adams In the goodness OF his heart
TO marry this lady. who was a widow, for
me purpose OF relieving her from this ter
rible position.
Capt. Adams agreed to do so, although he
had never seen the lady whom he subse-
quentiy married. He was introduced TO
her by Mrs. Kingscote and they were mar
ried on November Z, 1894, but II was ar
ranged that the marriage should be sim
ply for the purpose .of reviewing the lady
from her desperate position, that they
were not to live together and that the
lady was not 10 take the husbands name,
nor was she to ask him for support They
never lived together. and two lays after
tho marriage Capt. Adams left for India
with his regiment.
While there ne received letter from
his wife asking IL she might toin him, He
wrote back saying certainly not as such
a thing was never contemplated by either
OF them. The next thing that happened
was that the colonel spoke to him and told
him he had received a letter from the
lady's brother, who was also an army Of
hcer. to the effect that Capt Adams had
deserted his wife, and asked the colonel
TO look into the matter. Capt. Adams told
the colonel all the circumstances, where
upon the colonel said there was nothing
against his conduct as an officer and a
gentleman. Capt. Adams wrote to this eff
feet to the lady's brother, who was salts
He'd and there the matter ended
Capt. Adams came back TO this coun-
try In 1897 and met his wife She told
him she had become a trained nurse and
was living with lady of means She
said she was perfectly comfortable and
did not desire to live with him At
later period the captain learned that his
wife had not been living properly and he
saw her at solicitors office, where she
made a statement TO the effect that she
had been visited by a gentleman. whose
name she gave and that she had I'm fact.
committed adultery with him
Capt. Adams filed a petition for divorce
but u was dismissed for want of evidence
He went back TO India and when he re-
turned TO this country again he learned
that his wife had been seen with the CO.
respondent. Bell. about whom nothing
was known. He had her watched and in
the result 1t was ascertained that the re-
spondent and correspondent had been liv-
ing together at the Midland hotel. Subse-
ouently she wrote letter to the petitioner
In which she said:
THE marriage which took place between
us was arranged by Mrs. Howard Kings
cote before you had seen me or / YOU II
was undertaken TO save me from the eff
fects OF crime which ! had committed
AT that time l was heavily in debt and
also worse trouble, because for the sake
OF Mrs. Howard Kingscote 1 had com
mtted perjury" The learned counsel ex-
planned that Mrs. Howard Kingscote.
wishing TO raise money, took this unfor-
tunate lady before a commissioner OF
oaths and she made an affidavit which
was absolutely untrue. The letter went
on: AT the request Of Mrs. Howard
kinsscote you went through a ceremony
OF marriage WITH me. You did Il to save
me, | have never been your wife except
IN name, You have sacrificed your life
for me. and you have behaved in a perfect
ly honorable way toward me, and | can
never thank YOU enough for what you
have done, | hope no one viii ever mis-
understand the facts Of the case Yours.
Stephanief
The petitioner In his testimony said thai
the lady whom he had married was Mrs
Drummond Wolr. He had never before
seen the lady. lie knew she was on the
verge OF bankruptcy and he married her
She afterward thapked him Tor saving
her from bankruptcy. She told him she
had Zoo year.
Replying to his lordship he said that his
only object IN marrying her was to save
her. Two days sfterward he left for In
da
Evidence having been given Of the adul-
terry. his lordship, In granting a decree
nisl. said that this was one OF the strang-
est stories he had ever been told even In
the divorce court. London News.