The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-26
EARL CHARGED
WITH BIGAMY
The Nobleman Weds a Nevada Girl
Though His Wife is Neither
Dead Nor Divorced.

LONDON, April 1S.-The cabled an
nouncement in the marriage columns
of the Times this morning of the we'd
ding of Earl Russell to Mollie Cooke.
at Reno. Nevada, April Is, has created
sensation here, as IL appears that
Earl Russell, according to the English
law, is still legally married to the first
Countess Russell, who is now perform
ing at the Tivoli Music Hall.
The Star thinks the announcement:
which also appeared in this mornings
Standard may be a hoax, for 1t says by
marrying another woman the head of
the noble house would render himself
liable to imprisonment for bigamy on
his return to England.
The marital trouble OF the RusseIls
commenced in the courts in 1891, when
the Countess, who is a daughter of the
well-known Lady Scott, applied for a
separation from her husband on the
ground of cruelty, which was refused.
Four years later the same petition re-
suited in the defendant nobleman be-
ing granted a judicial separation. But
further litigation and cross-petitions
followed. The litigation was ended by
the Court of Appeals refusing relief to
both parties, so they are still legally
married.
The Westminster Gazette suggests
Earl Russell may have secretly secured
an American divorce. But it was point
ed out that this would not save him
from the penalties OF the English
courts. When Countess Russell was
interviewed this afternoon on the sub
ject she was almost prostrated, and she
is arranging to postpone her stage ap-
pearance this evening. She was ac-
companied by her mother. All the
Countess knew of the affair was the
announcement in the papers. She
said:
When | saw the news the blow was
terrible. II seems such a dreadful ad-
dition to all my troubles. 1t is ter
rible if it is true that a man can go to
another country and get married after
the courts of this country have decid-
ed against him. 1t is quite untrue to
say Earl Russell obtained a judicial
separation. When the House of Lords
heard the case II was decided against
him"
Lady Scott said she and her daugh-
ter knew the Earl had been in Amer
lea about a year but they had heard
nothing from him. She added:
l<duy NuoN'ii PihNth NhC AAoNets
in the hands of her solicitor and is not
at all inclined to resign herself to the
acceptance of her noble husbands fam
lily motto which is: What will be, will
be-"
A close friend OF Lord Russell in con-
firming the announcement of the Earl's
marriage, adds:
For some time Lord Russell felt that
his years of suffering and annoyance
had released him from all obligations,
moral or otherwise, connected with his
first marriage, and therefore that he
was privileged to do as he pleased. /
do not believe the question of bigamy
will be raised but at any rate Lord Rus
sell and his Irish bride are returning
to England next month"
RENO, New, April 1S.-A marriage
license was issued to John Francis
Stanley Russell and Mollie Cooke In
this city Saturday, April IL. They
stopped at the Riverside Hotel Satur-
day night and were married Sunday by
Judge Benjamin Curler. They left Sun
day night for the East. their destina-
ton being unknown.
Mollie Cookies son, a young man OF
about % years OF age, was with the
couple. They came to Reno from Glen
brook. Nevada. a small summer resort
on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
RENO. New. April 1S.-Mollie Cooke,
the bride. appeared TO be a woman OF
forty and did not seem prepossessing in
appearance. When the couple procured
the marriage license she gave her age
as "over eighteen" The marriage cere-
mony was witnessed by A. Holmes and
Miss Fernandez.