The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-12
MRS. ALICE DUKE SPEAKS.
Shc Dec,areS the Duke Family Are
Seeking TO Ruin Her Fair Fame.

Especial TO News and ObserverD
New York. Jan. 11.-Here is Mrs.
Nice l.. Webb Dukes own story, told
~ herself in the home of her friend,
where she is in seclusion:
Il have large property interests in
'eXas. and it was in connection with
hese that | came to New York from
chicago I'm the latter part OF Novern-
Der. | wanted to enlist additional
capital in the. development of the
property. and naturally l meant TO
eek wealthy investors, who might be
Interested in the enterprise. OF
curse. | had heard of the Dukes as
men of wealth
ION my arrival in New York i'll the
after part OF November. sent tele-
yram 10 Brodie l.. Duke asking for
| business appointment with him.
This message, by some error. fell into
he hands Of his brother. Benjamin
y Duke. l was at the Astor House.
nd he came there in response TO my
.ele@ram.
Il Immediately sent a second tcle-
ram TO Brodie l.. Duke, at Durham.
Y. c., and this one he received. He
anne on to New York IN answer 10
ny telegram and we met for the f!rst
inc at tho. Astor House. | Went into
lie details of my business, and he
istened with the greatest interest
81 met Mr.. Duke by appointment
4 the same place the following day
IN. still again the next In the mean
ime he had been making Inquiries
bout me and my business acairs. TO
nv great astOniShment he said to me
It the third meeting
Little girl. | don't want your to-
,acco stock or your lands, nor do J
want TO consider amy of your bust
hess proposition. promising as they
ook But l do want you
81 was dumbfounded at what he
;aid | explained Ia him thai sues q
tep on his part would be certain To
ause no end Of comment on the part
Vt his friends.
when M. Duke ami ] were dis
,ussing our prospective marriage one
lay / asked him if he had acquainted
us family, lis brothers and sons with
t, and if thu were likely to raise any
objections to it.
.''WiH they recognize ne ds your
Wife, | asked--'and treat ne as
such? in other words, am | 20 be re-
eived as member of the Duke
'ami1y?
He replied: Durham is big
place, the family home Is mine and
ny relatives will respect You or have
he alternative Of getting on. of it,
And now | want TO deny empha-
,ic.tlly all Of the published reports
lbCut M. Duke and me indulging 10
Excess in drinking and that we We're
often in an intoxicated condition To-
ether. 1t is AL wicked falsehood
nd intended by the members Of (. .
Duke family, who have been perSccut-
ng me ever since my marriage To sir.
Duke. tC destreOy my good name.
1--WE mad malc ouI plans - be
married on December 10. [ consent
I'd 10 this carly marriage at the ur-
cent Hlea Of MIR. Duke. We were
married at the Rev. DR. Parkhurst's
'hurch. his assistant, Mr.. Coe. per
corning the ceremony. The ccre-
nony took place at $40 in the even
NC. our mutual friend. Mr.. e. w.
Thompson, and Mr. HlrSt were pres
ent.
II have hidden myself away here
with friends SO that car aycid q lot
IT unpleasant notoriety and have :ir
opportunity TO recover my health. /
know that grave injustice has been
lone both to Mr.. Duke auG myself. /
am equally well aware Of the fact
that members Of his family are back
81 il all. But the true facts will come
to light and then We shall see if there
IS such Il thing as Justice i'm the land.
we arc the victims of a terrible plot.
1t IS not true that | am hiding
mere To eNade an inquiry by Diatrict
Attorney Jerome and the grand jury.
Nhen | have sufficiently recovered 10
De abe to go down town | shall go to
see Mr.. jerome. | want that terrible
affair cleared IN just as much as any
one il the world