The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-17

Especial to News and Observer.)
New York. January 9.-Iawrence
Duke, the son of Brodie L. Duke. who
was taken from his bride, Mrs. Alice
Webb-Duke, at the Park Avenue Hotel
on Friday by his relatives and
Committed to a sanitarium visited
his father at the sanitarium today and
asked him point blank why he har
married Miss Webb. Duke whose
health is already much restored by
the treatment he has received told
his son that he a no recollection
whatever of marrying n one. He
said that he was amazed to find that
not recall going to a minister with
Miss Webb or even asking her to
marry him. This statement it is said.
will be used al the basis of an action
to be brought by the Duke family to
have the marriage annulled.
Mrs. Duke and her friend and COM
panfon Mrs. Agnes Desplaines, were
both subpoenaed today to appear be-
fore the district attorney. Mrs. Duke
failed to respond. Mrs. DespIaines,
however. did go to district attorneys
Office. She denied that she had ever
conducted the notorious House of All
Nations. She said:
Il ran a hotel in the Tenderdloin
and it was raided by the police.
I did 9nroar an1 focfifaI But it &c Nv,
pear before the Lexow committee and
I did appear and testified. But it is an
outrage to say that I ran the House
of All Nations. I am the friend and
companion Of Mrs. Duke.
She met Mr.. Duke first through
an advertisement which had been in
serted in a western newspaper for
some one to assist in a tobacco deal.
She was a rich woman then and still
owns tobacco lands in Texas. At the
very second meeting between Mr..
Duke and Miss Webb, Mr.. Duke told
her that he was very fond Of her and
that he had always wanted to marry
a woman with business ability. He
said to her: I like your methods.
little girl, and I want you to marry
me- She replied: You are a mem
Der of a prominent family and your
relatives would surely object to such
a marriage Duke hen said he was
free to marry whom he liked and that
no member of his family would dare
to question his conduct. He said he
would have her in spite Of the world,
hat he wanted her worse than he
had " wanted a oma in his life,
and hat h must marry him. so
she married him. That's all there
is to it, save that a more loving couple
never lived"
Mrs. Desplaines didn't go bero-~
the grand jury. She was allowed TO
go On her pledge to return on jan
uary 13, at which time Mrs. Duke
will be able to appear.
1t was learned today that Brodie L.
Duke is not a brother, but half
brother of Benjamin N. and James
B.. Duke.
It was a week ago that the peculiar
conditions leading to the marriage
were Investigated by the family. Last
Wednesday night a member of the
Duke family who lives out Of town
arrived in the city and vent to the
Hoffman House. He a not been
III Tie IOOLI very 1OIS WHICH, ZIG lciS-
phone rang. He took up the receiver
and a woman's voice said: This is
your new sister-in-law. I called You
up to tell you hat I have married
your brother Brodie, and that we are
very happy"
The member of the family at the
Hoffman House said hat if this was
rue he was glad they were happy,
but had no comment to make on the.
situation.
WELL said the woman-s voice,
st want you to know that we are
very happy. Mr.. Duke is here and
wants to tell you SO himself
Mr.. Brodie Duke then same to the
telephone and was asked by his rela-
tive if it was true he was married.
Yes" was the response. This lit
tie Texas girl has got me and got me
good"
Are you satisfied" was asked.
It don't know whether am or
not" was the response.
There was a break in the talk at
this point and the man at the Hoff-
nan House end could hear two wom-
en- talking to Brodie Duke. Then Mr..
Duke called through the telephones:
Yes, it's all right: I'm satisfied"
Shortly after the marriage Duke
went to Durham, n. c., and friends
who saw him there say he was in a
dazed condition. He tried to wind up
his affairs in that place and when he
left he took a lot of stock with him
and arranged to have 100000 worth
Of stock he owns in local corporations
sent to this city. The detectives also
learned that Duke and the two women
went to a number of down town banks
with stock and tried to raise money
on it, but We're not successful.
Traced Thronoh the TauderTOin