The Washington times., 1901-10-30
NO APOLOGY TO MAKE.
Assistant Secretary TayIor's Reply
to Countess RUSSELL

| Regarding the trip which Earl Russell
| OF England. 1t is reported contemplates
making to this country, and his right to
| land here under the laws regulating the
| immigration service. Fl. A Taylor, Assist
ant Secretary OF the Treasury, yesterday
| afternoon gave out the following state
ment:
| - Assistant Secretary Taylor. OF the
| treasury, was somewhat astonished and
considerably amused last evening to re-
| ceiNe a long cablegram from London sign
| ed Mabel Edith, Countess Russell wifh
! reference to the Earl Russell case IN
seems from the cable message from the
countess that she has received informa-
tion, probably through the London papers
tnat Assistant Secretary Taylor had
stated that the divorce OF Earl Russell
! was properly granted and that due notice
OF the Application for the divorce had been
served upon her. The countess denies
tnat she received any notice except what
she saw in the London newspapers She
says the divorce was a fraud and invalid.
ana says to Mr.. Taylor, to use her own
words. 1 am entitled to public apology
from you through press
Ihis demand indicates that the
countess desires the widest publicity In
the matter, and rather makes It incum-
Dent upon Mr.. Taylor to make public re-
sponse. Mr.. Taylor declines to make any
apology, for, he says. he never made the
statement attributed to him. He knows
common rumor. He doesn't know what
sort Of notice, IL any, was served upon
the Countess but presumes that the no.
tice provided for by the statutes of the
State where the decree OF divorce was
issued was given. probably by publication
In the newspapers. 1t is not the custom
OF the Department to pass upon the eligi-
bilfty of persons seeking admission TO the
United States until the matter is properly
submitted to it through the immigration
officials at the port where the landing is
sought
In the case of Earl Russell, who, 1t is
reported, is intending to come to this
country, letter had been sent from the
Immigration Bureau to several of the
ports. calling the attention of the officials
to the fact that a protest had been re-
cefved against mis- admission. and request
ing the boards of enquiry to take notice
Of that fact Upon further consideration
the Department. thinking this notice
might be regarded as instruction TO de-
tain the earl on the ground that he had
been convicted Of hiSamy in England.
rescinded the letter referred to. and, upon
the advice of the solicitor, informed the
immigrant officials that unless there were
other reasons for detaining the earl, he
should not DE debarred- The position Of
the Department is that the earl, having
received a decree of divorce recognized
as valid by the laws and courts in this
country, entirely freeing him from his
former wife, and giving him the privi-
iege of marrying again II he 50 desired,
could not properly be kept out Of the
country for doing what our courts had
declar-1- he had a perfect right to do.
This Is the history of the case as far
as it has progressed. Assistant Secretary
Taylor says he is glad that the countess
has requested his statement to be made
through the press. as correspondence
by cable would be rather expensive. He
declares that nothing could be further
from his intentions than to injure the al
ready lacerated feelings of the irate
Mabel Edith, Countess Russell. and
therefore he avails himself of the medium
which she names of Indignantly repudiat-
ing the words which some meddlesome
or malicious informant has put into his
mouth"
The following Is a copy Of the cable
message referred to above;
Taylor, Assistant Secretary Treas
ury, Washington:
Statement made by YOU regarding
divorce granted Earl Russell America,
entirely untrue. No papers were served
on ME My first notice came through
London papers. Divorce was obtained
by fraud Was proved by Judge Curl
er Lords. am entitled public apology
from you through press.
MABEL. EDITH, COUNTESS RUS
SELL.