The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-08-29
FLAGLER TO WE'D
SOUTHERN BELLE.
Miss Kenan of North Carolina the
Bride to- Be-
A Special Law by Florida to Divorce
Him From Insane Wife

Him From Insane Wife
Palm Beach, Fla, Aug. -. Henry
NJ. Flagler, Standard Oil magnate,
the richest man in Florida, recently
divorced from his insane wife, will
marry Miss Lilly kenan OF keenan,
vile, \. C., on Saturday next. Mr..
Flagler is - and his bride Is 36.
Miss kenan is a highly cultured wo-
man, daughter Of Capt. " r. kenan,
a soldier for the south in the civil
war Mr.. Flagler and his party left
here last night for the wedding. They
90 direc to kenanville.
Every night of the year at the sani-
tarium of DR.. Charles Mcdonald,
Pleasantville, \. Y, a woman, as
sisted by nurses and maids, arrays
herself in costly gowns and stands at
a window to await the visit OF her
husband For hours she stands there
inmOvable and at last, overcome by
exhaustion, she is led away That is
the woman from whom Mr.. Fla gler
was few weeks ago freed by divorce.
She is surrounded on all sides by ey-
cry luxury money can buy. She has
a large suite of apartments. her own
chef, her own servants, maids, nurses,
and even her own physician, but she
is hopelessly mad. fortune has
been spent on her The leading alien
lists OF the world have studied her case
and all have pronounced it hopeless.
She will never recover.
Mrs. Flagler was Ida Shrouds, the
daughter of a Philadelphia clergy
man. She possessed an Independent
fortune Of her own, but, having "a
fancy for the stage, became for two
years an actress. After she had re-
tired from this she returned to Phila-
delphia, and there met Mr.. Flagler.
He was wealthy then, but the Stand
ard Oil Co. had not become the colos-
sit has. Their courtship was brief,
and they were married June +, 1888.
Mr. Flagler soon after established
homes at $50 Fifth avenue, New York
City, Mamroneck, \. Y and winter
home at ST. Augustine, Fla. He had
just begun to take an interest in the
state which has since become a coun-
try OF palace hotels built by him.
The marriage was happy in every re-
spected. Husband and wife were de-
voted, but it brought one sorrow
that preyed constantly upon the
She could not be di-
verified from thoughts of it. 1t caus-
ed melancholia and finally dementa.
For years the husband kept his
wife at the Fifth avenue home, sur
rounded by every attention money
could buy, but three years ago, after
he had learned there was no hope,
upon advice she was sent to the sani- |
tarium. The husband Immediately |
gave up his northern homes and has
since resided in Florida.
" hen the law which makes insanity |
4 ground for an absolute divorce |
was introduced by the Florida legis-
allure last winter it aroused a storm |
Of opposition. 1t was openly assert |
I'd that it was put forth in the inter
,sts of Mr.. Flagler, and was esta blish- |
NC a precedent never before thought |
Of in any other state. The pulpit |
and newspapers OF the state inveigh-
ID against it, and there was mass
meetings. without number in protest.
out the bill became Il law. and the
Elagler case was the first to be filed
lnder it.
Mr.. Flagler has been twice married.
His first wife died 30 years ago.
Hold Pierce City Suspect