The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-22
Names the Duke Of Westminster, Who
Was Married Last Week, as Coz
Respondent i'm the Case.
EFFORT TO HUSH" THE MATTER
PLAINTIFF DECLINES TO ACCEPT A
CHECK FOR ABOUT 100000.
King Edward VII Said to Be Trying
to Eject a Ccmpromise-The
Parties to the Suit.

LONDON, Feb. 21.-Major T. ]. Atherton.
second in command of the Twelfth prince
of Wales RoyaD Lancers, now in South
Africa. has filed suit for divorce against
his wife, Mabel Louisa Atherton, naming
the Duke of Westminster as correspondent.
With the announcement of the filing OF
the suit of "Atherton versus Atherton and
Westminster the long-anticipated divorce
proceedings of Major Atherton against his
wife, with the Duke of Westminster figur-
ing In the role Of correspondent, have at
length materialized. Within the past thir-
ty-six hours a lawyer, who is looked upon
as the leader of the divorce court bar, has
been retained in behalf of the petitioner.
The case cannot be aired In court at any
rate for some months. and possibly not
before the autumn, and the friends of the
just married duke may yet succeed in COM
promising the matter and preventing
trial. But as Major Atherton is reported
to have already refused a check for $4,000
as compensation for the injury he is said
to have sustained, the task ahead of those
who are trying to arrange a settlement,
among whom is said TO be King Edward
himself, would seem to be hopeless.
The petitioner in this sensational scandal
belongs to one of the crack regiments in
the British army, the Twelfth prince of
Wales RoyaD Lancers. Major Atherton
ought to have succeeded to the command
of the regiment when its late colonel, the
Earl of Airlie. killed in South Africa
in June last, but he was passed over in
favor of Colonel B. 7. Mahon, who COM
manded the British forces which relieved
Mafeking.
he ah
is a sister of Sir Aubrey Paul. bart She
married the major in 1892 They have one
son. born in 1899. Mrs. Atherton is a good
looking. stylish woman about thirty-five
years of age. She belongs to London's
smart set When Mrs. xtherton went to
South Africa her husbands regiment was
with Lord Methuen's command at the Mod
der river. and she proceeded there. Mrs.
Atherton was at the Modder river camp
with other women when DR.. Treyes de-
nounced the plague OF women" at the
front in South Africa. The Duke of West
Minister then Lord Belgrave and the
brother OF a well-known South Africa mil
lionalre whose name has also been mem
toned with that OF Mrs. Atherton. were at
the same camp. For long time Major
Atherton remained in ignorance of the
camp gossip, but finally some OF his brother
officers notified him OF the facts in the case
Mrs. Atherton returned TO England in Oc-
tober. and stopped of at the Island OF Ma
deira. There she took passage on "a steamer
which was taking the Duke OF Westminster
home. They arrived in London Nov. 3.
Since the return Of Mrs. Atherton the
Grosvenor family (the dukes name is Hugh
Richard Arthur GrosvenoD has been en-
gagged in an attempt to prevent the case
getting into the courts. The Countess OF
Grovesnor. the dukes mother. invited Mrs.
Atherton 10 her house. This move silenced
the gossips for some time. Then came the
report OF the service Of citation on the
Dsike OF Westminster the day OF his mar
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3, COL. A.