The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-27
BOGUS LORDS ANSWER
F. Seymour Darlington Pro-
tests Against a Divorce.

Kansas City, Kan. May 27.-"Lord"
F. Seymour Darlington of st. Louis has
filed his answer in the district court
here to the divorce suit instituted by
his wife. Wilhelmina Grace Cochrane
harrington. The answer was drawn by
John 1. Martin, attorney for Lord
Darlington. and sent by mail from St
Louis. The facts set forth We're sworn
to Monday by Darlington before Nc
Donald Martin, notary public of St
Louis.
In his answer LORD harrington does
not ask that he be granted a divorce,
but asks that the divorce action be
thrown out of court and dismissed. as
he declares that he believes his wife
loves him still. and if permitted to
would "unhesitatingly return to hin"
and that he and she could and would
live together again as heretofore in
each others love.
The answer opens by telling of the
marriage at St Louis January q 1908,
and says they lived together as hus-
band and wife until February 1, exact
ly ten days. when he was assaulted by
James Cochrane of this city, his broth
er-in-law In describing the assault
Lord" Barrington's answer says it was
unexpected and cowardly- Itsrecites;
while they were happily enjoying
each others society James Coehrane, a
brother of the plaintiff, without just
cause or prOVOca ton. Unexpectedly and
in a cowardly manner assaulted the de
fendant while he was seated IN a chalr,
and before the defendant had time to
realize what this assault was made for,
or to defend himself. Police officers,
who had been previously requested TO
be, and were present, arrested the de-
fendant took him to the calaboose and
subsequently before police justice,
who, contrary to law and the evidence.
Illegally convicted him on charge of
disturbing the peace, sentenced him to
serve a long term in the work house IN
the city of St. Louis. causing the de-
fendant humiliation, suffering and un-
enviable notoriety."
Continuing the answer tells of how
warmly his wife loved him and now ne
adored her. The remainder of the an
swer is brief 4 says;
THE defendant further states that
he at all times treated the plaintiff
with kindness and affection, and thar
the plaintiff also treated the defendant
with warm affection and love, and that
the defendant believes that if the plain
tiff were not coerced by her relatives
she would unhesita tingly return to him.
become reconciled, and that the plain
tiff and the defendant could and would
live together again as heretofore IL
each others love.
Defendant, for further answer to the
plaintiffs petition, denies each and
every other allegation contained there
in. and to the best of his knowledge
and belief these allegations were found~
ed on Misrepresentation. Having fully
answered, the defendant prays that this
cause be dismissed.
Mrs. Darlington filed her suit for di-
vorce from Lieut.. Col. Lord" Barring
ton in the district court April Is II,
st. Louis Lord Darlington announces
his intention of fighting the suit. Bar
ringtcn has pending in the district
court in Kansas City Kas.. a suit
against James Cochrane for $4,000 for
DAMAGES for assault.
/ Wilhelmina Grace Cochrane. a young
girl of Kansas City. KAN went to St
Louis last winter to visit her sister, Mrs.
r. R. Elliott While there she met Bar
ringtOn. They were married without the
knowledge Of her father and brothers in
Kansas City, Kan. After the wedding they
went to live in the Southern hotel. Mrs.
Darlington wrote letters to her relatives
in Kansas City. Kan. telling them of her
lord" were to have 4 second wedding, a
state affair, at the British embassy at
Washington and then go to England. She
said her lord" would take her TO his cas-
Her letters were full Of a young girls fan
cy.
Her brother James coehrane was not to
be misled, however. He wrote to the Brit
ish minister and to the consul and learn
ed that there was Lord harrington
and that his castle was one Of air. In his
anger he went to St. Louis armed with
his sisters letters and the proofs against
the bogus lord. They met at Mrs Elliott s
house and there Cochrane thrashed Bar
bogus lord was sentenced to a year in the
Workhouse. He pardoned a short
time ago. Mrs. Darlington has not seen
him since. She recently returned to Kan
jenkins to file suit for divorce from
Lord harrington.