The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-27

I
the title. His brother the second Baron
Fermoy, IS only two years his senior and
had just married. Mr.. Roche was sim
ply a good-looking Irish gentleman, OF
whose family dated back something like
800 years. He had been educated at Trim
ity College. Dublin, and had also taken
a degree at Cambridge.
Lord Fermoy owns something like pa
90 acres of land in Ireland. but he is
not rich. and his brother had practically
no means at all when he married the
daughter Of the millionaire New York
broker. At least, Mr. Work has so
stated publicly. and he declared his son
had never done a days work
The marriage took place in Christ
Church, New York. in September. 1889.
and it was one OF the most brilliant
weddings in many seasons The bride
was twenty years old and Mr.. Roche
was twenty-eight.
They Immediately went to London 10 live
where Mrs Roche's beauty attracted
much attention. She has a particularly
fine carriage and a certain naughty dig
nifty that impressed the English people
as it has always those or her own coun-
try. Their first child died the year OF
its birth. 1852. and the r-cond daughter
was born IN 1854 Mrs. Roche lived with
her husband for six years and then she
returned TO this country, bringing her
daughter with her. She left her sons,
twins, who were born in 1888, with Mr..
Roche.
There were rumors Of a separation but
no legal steps were taken until 1890 when
Mrs. Roche established a residence at
Wilmington. Del. and applied for an ab-
sOlute divorce. Her chief counsel was
the late Thomas z. Bayard who had
formerly been ambassador 10 England.
In the trial Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs Roche's
sister testified that Mr. Roche never con-
tributed 10 the support Of his wife and
children. Her father made the Roches
an allowance Of 100 a year from the
time they were married until the children
were born. and then the amount was
increased TO 81 go a year.
She declared further that Mrs. Roche
came 10 this country It was her hus-
bands directions. Mr. Roche wanted Mr.
Work 10 advance a large sum Of money
TO cancel his Indebtedness.
Mr.. Work also testified that he had 70
support his son-in-law and his daughter
and their children from the time of their
marriage until their separation. He said
Mr.. Roche seemed TO think that his wife's
chief mission in life was 10 raise money
for him.
The reason why he refused to give his
son-in-laW any more money. Mr. Work
explained. was because he found that the
sums already advanced had been misap-
propriated. On one occasion he had 10
cable to London to keep the furniture
Mr.. Work also said that the year after
his daughter returned 10 America, MI
Roche followed. He sent Mr. Work word
that he was coming with the two boys
and asked his fatker-in-law TO meet him.
Mr. Work did not go to the steamer pier,
but sent a servant.
The late George Work, Mrs. Roches
brother testified that on this occasion
ne saw Mr.. Roche bring his Two sons 20
his home IN Madison Square and leave
them on the doorstep, Immediately re-
entering the carriage and driving away
4 saw Roche on the following day in
He was holding a conversation about
NY sister raising funds for him The
Oldest Child. Cynthia. was brought into
the room by her mother. Roche did not
caress nor touch the child. although he
had not seen her since December, 1856.
He seemed to lose all interest in my
sister after the principal part Of the
interview was over. He did not en-
brace his wife, nor did he say word
TO her on leaving the house
The Delaware courts granted Mrs
Roche an absolute divorce and she re-
stunned her brilliant place in society. from
which she had partly withdrawn Mr..
Roche refused TO recognize the divorce.
nor has he done so 10 this day He
maintained that his wife became a Brit
ish subject by marrying him and that
only a British court was competent 10
pass upon the application for divorce.
When ne stood for Parliament as an
Irish Nationalist. the charge was then
brought against him that he was d.
vorced. and he denied It fatty. He then
brought libel suits against the Irish
Times and Burke's Peersge for publish
in the fact that he had baen divorced
and he won them both
Mr. Roche has passed nearly half his
time on this side OF the Atlantic since
his wife obtained divorce. He has made
many efforts. legal and otherwise. for
permission to see his daughter Cynthia.
and the courts have always decided
against him Many harsh words were
uttered on both sides. and finally a set
tlement was reached which. II is under
stood. left the matter with the young
woman herself
II Is rather curious that Mr. Roche
never expressed any particular desire 70
see his sons. At least there was no
mention of them In the legal actions that
he has taken. They are now fire and
sturdy boys. Edmund Maurice and Fran
els George. seventeen years old last May.
should the title descend 70 Burke Roche
then Edmund. who IS a few minutes old
er than his twin brother. VIII De heir TO
the baronetcy and il IS altogether likely
that he VIII become the fourth Baron
Fermoy and make his hone in Ireland
and England. He IS not being trained
Tor British peer. but as an ordinary
American boy. Should the tide descend
20 him he would be the FIRST American
for he is an American IN everything save
the single fact that his father vas an
I-ishman and was born in London-who
ever became n peer Of England. It should
be remembered that the twins have lived
in this country ever since they were
year old.
But his sister. who vii become the
Honorable CYNTHIA. when her brother *