The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-08-17
OKLAHOMA DIVORCE
CAUSE OF Big SCANDAL
Joseph g. Stearns of Rich Old New
England Family Secures AnnuI-
ment of Wedding to Divorce
After Ten Years.

Boston, Mass, Aug IA great
sensation was caused in social and n
nanclal circles when It was stated that
Joseph G.. stearns. a member OF one OF
Tho Oldest and wealthiest Of New Eng
land families. had been divorced last
February from his wife, to whom he
had been married ten years Mrs
$ earns had lived in New York for
about two years.
Before her marriage to Mr.. Stearns,
the wife had been divorced in okla
homs from George NJ. Lincoln, a promi-
nent New York business man. The
legality Of this divorce was made the
basis for the proceedings for the annul-
ment OF the stearns wedding and
Judge Hardy held that under the Mas
sachusetts laws. the Oklahoma di.
porce was illegal
Mrs. Stearns, II is now announced
proposes to begin an action in New
York to annul the Boston annulment
Air. and MIS-. Stearns separated on
May %. 1902" said Attorney Dunbar
FOR reasons which we do not care to
discuss. In Angus 1908 Mrs Stearns
ssss served with papers IN an action
brought by MIR. Starnes to have his
marriage annulled. In his libel Mr.
tarnes declared that when he married
s7rs. Starnes. on September 5, 1894, he
was nader the impression that the
oklahoma divorce was valid and le-
sl. but about the middle of 1903, he
learned, noon he advice OF his lawyer,
that II was illegal. whereupon his ac.
tion was brought.
AIRS Steams was represented at
si,e trial in the spremue court before
1hdgo hardy by Joseph Bennett who
Submitted a brief. bu put in no testi-
Enoncy Judge Hardy fonud that the
probate sourt of Oklahoma county, Ok
iahoma. had no jurisdiction to dis
solve The m,rriage relation existing be
tween Mrs and Mr. Lincoln and that
the decree Of hat court was entitled to
no faith and credit, and that the mar
riase relation between Mr. and Mrs.
1Ancoln was not dissolved by that de-
crce or by the other ac or proceeding
% Oklahoma and that it sdn exists"
Nttoney Dunbar then stated that
alr. Bennett. in Mrs stearne' behalf
niadr request hat the case be re-
ported to the snpreme court for its de-
9ermination, but later waived this re.
sluct. whereufon judge Harvey signed
sho decree,
Poor Lincoln is in pretty bad
hoic, Mr. Stearns grlmly remarked,
reterring to Iincoln's remarrying at.
ter he divorce from his first wife.
Airs. Rose stearns, whose second
husband IN Boston obtained the an
nniment OF his marriage TO her after
nearly tei, years of welded life, foliasy
ing an Oklahoma divorce. Is very
handsome woman and looks fifteen
wears younger than her age. She is
nr.a cousin OF Ralph Waldo Emerson.
iier Father was professor Of language
ag Brown university and later the first
librarian Of lhe Boston public library
she was married to George NJ. Lincoln
thirty seven years ago In Boston. and
they had three children. For many
wears they were happy, but luring the
.lpht wears prior 10 the Oklahoma a.,
pcscc there had been domestic diff
sulties that finally eliminated in an
open rup'ure. She sold her valuable
securities and jewels to 90 TO Okla
h0ma to secure divorce. She was
.assured that the decree was binding
lr ans Of the states of the United
,siates
For some time after the granting Of
lna decree Mrs Lincoln -Stearns said.
4 lived at New Rochelle. had met
Dir Stearns on several occasions at
social funciions prior to my domestic
freubles. Now that was free to mar
ry aasain he paid court to me lie had
been a widower for FIVE years, had two
sieaehters and maintained a fine estah-
lishment in Pos on. lie was one Of tho
sccr,taries Of the Ole Colony Trust
.ecn.rany He possessed tracts OF real
oslAie in Brooklyn and had large In
ec1me. My friends and relatives urged
me 10 accept him and We were marrl-
80 IN New Rochelle on Sept 0 1894,
oy the Rev. William B Walter, pastor
~ fhe New Rochelle Presbyterian
shurch
The newspapers printed long ac'
s-oun's Of the marriase and spoke Of
ne oklahoma divorce Mr. stearns
consulted his brotherni-law, Charles
scoie, lawyer. and with him ven