Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-22
REV. JOHN A. CROCKETT.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES OF a MA
TIVE OF NORFOLK

OOMESTIC TROUBLES OF ~ Ma
TIVE OF NORFOLK.
The New York Herald says:
The story of how we came to sepa-
rate is simple enough. My wife's
mother had joined us in Florence.
When we met. my wife said: John,
kiss my mother l said No re-
fused to embrace or kiss her. 1t was
that refusal that caused our separa-
ton" The Rev. John Addison Crock
EFT. in explaining the suit of his wife, a
millionaires daughter, for divorce.
AS one come back from the dead
according to an afternoon newspaper
of yesterday, the Rev. John Addison
Crockett. who is now an instructor in
this city, gave this explanation of the
suit for divorce recently begun by his
wife. daughter of Marcus Hawley, OF
Connecticut.
MIR. Crockett and his wife parted in
Florence fifteen years ago. She now
lives in Newton. Conn. in her home OF
wealth and fashion. She has always
refused to tell the cause of their sep
aration. saying simply: only three
living persons know tiny mother, Mr..
Crockett and myself 1 shall die when
those living have brea thcd their last"
Crockett. who lived in Connecticut
seven years ago. disappeared. His
wife's lawyer tried in vain to locate
him. Now he has broken the silence of
years. says he was never in hiding or
seclusion, ana gives his version of the
marriage. the separation and the pend
ing suit For divorce.
MIR. CROCK FITS STORY.
Here are extracts from the story now
credited 10 him:
Il married Mary Hawley on June 4.
1854. She WAS twenty-five then; was
twenty-sN. We parted in Italy in the
second week OF November.
gave up the ministry and sought world
~ pursuits. The whole divorce pro-
ceedinG is surprise to me.
AS ! learned from my lawyer. the
proceedings begun in Newton are to
protect tho inheritance OF my wife,
whose father left millions.
do not want one cent OF, it.
There has been mystery surrounding
the cause of our separation. II it not
true That we took an oath on an open
Rihlc that we should forever bury in
our breasts the cause of our parting.
There has never been anything but
the deepest reverence and affection be-
tween myself and wife. That reverence
and affection still exist. Even when I
bade my wife goodbye it was with
loving kiss. We agreed that come what
may the divorce courts could never
separate us.
The story of how we came to sep
arate is simple enough. My wfe's
mother had joined us in Florence
When we met my wife said John kiss
my mother. NO. l refuse to embrace
or kiss her.
1T was that refusal that caused our
separation 1t was the beginning. of
the end. You know ! was young
man, impetuous, and had my notions
about things. l am older now and I'M
derstand things better.
We'll. my motherin-law and quar-
f1o 1 oh,
ana with supreme pride l passed from
under the Hawley influence altogether
Most remarkable was the change in my
mother-in-law and the revelation she
gave of her character.
she was so fiendish and cruel
could not stand her. No man can UNI
dcrstand this woman who does not
know her. You have heard tales OF
mothcr-in- law, but you cannot imag-
inc the wickcdness with which this
woman attacked me.
"On her ! lay all of my troubles to-
day. My wife vas not to blame. / can
trnthfully say with all the force that
the expression implies l am the victim
of too much mother-in-law. 1 shall
thank God / will not have to answer
in her place.
1t seems the cause of the separation
was 10 have been kept a secret and
that in her husbands absence Mrs.
2
ing cruelty and desertion. Some per-
sons in Connecticut. where the case had
caused much comment are To believe
that rather than have further revcla-
ticns made Mrs. Crockett may run the
hazard of sharing her immense for
tnne=Y&ith- r-hIshaii4l=and=dH aF.=ilia
divorce suit.
Mr.. John 4. Crockett. the gentleman
alluded to by the Herald is Il native
OF Norfolk. and his relatives and many
ncquaintances here will read of his
troubles with regret. He learned
the printing trade in the old Vrginian
Office. subsequently, attended theo-
logical school and took n course for the
ministry, being aided by DIR. Barten
rector of Christ p. r. Church. Shortly
after graduating Mr.. Crockett was call
ed to an Episcopal church I'm Connccti-
cut where he met and married the lady
who is now seeking n divorce.
The Liquor License Matter.