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

NC" IOIh, JdiludTy 1f.-AufS. BrOuIG
l. Duke, whose marriage to Brodie l..
Duke, a half brother of the president
of the American Tobacco Company was
followed by her husbands commitment
to sanitarium and proceedings to in
quire into his sanity, made a statement
of the circumstances under which she
| met and married Mr.. Duke today Mrs.
Duke declared that she wanted to be
set right before the public. She told
how she met Mr.. Duke as the result Of
an effort to secure a loan on tobacco
lands in Texas, said that she was
dumb-founded when Duke proposed
| marriage to her, that Duke had promis-
ed to give her stocks and bonds but had
never done so.
Mrs. Duke said that she had been
largely interested in tobacco raising in
terests in Redfield, Texas. that she
formerly was a promoter in Chicago
with Charles f. Taylor and that she
was a land and immigration agent Of
the Southern Pacific Company.
Mrs. Duke then stated that she requir-
ed, the sum Of s1S,500 to pay for the
Redfield lands, as, although she had
possession Of it she did not have a clear
title because the land belonged to the
bankrupt firm of Sully & Co., which
could not deliver a deed to her. Her
first Introduction to Mr.. Duke was the
outcome of her attempt to secure loan
from him to develop her lands at Red
field.
"Mr. Duke came up and saw me in
New York and three days afterwards
he asked me to marry him." said Mrs.
Duke. Il was dumbfounded at the re-
quest, but ne insisted that I become his
wife and 1 finally consented and we
were married on December 10th.
when Mr.. Duke asked me to marry
him we discussed his family affairs
The fact that he was twice married ana
had four children made me realize it
would be unpleasant for me to marry
him, and enter into his family How
ever, I told him that / would sign al
agreement not to accept any of his
property in case Of death, only secur-
ing for myself my own property at
Redfeld, which is situated four miles
from Nacogroches.
In reply to this, Mr. Duke said:
81 believe in you now and will never
doubt you any more. I shall trust you
and I will find way to give you while
am alive stock and bonds, and what
| is left, after my death, the children can
| fight over if they want to-
did Mr.. Duke give YOU any stocks
and bonds?" was asked.
mo, he never did"
Mrs Duke then told of her marriage
| by Rev. w. wv. Coe, in New York.
They lived at a hotel until Mr.. Duke
was taken away on January 9Th she
said
ct have nothing to fear in Texas"
| said Mrs. Duke. Il am not afraid to go
| back there and while l have no knowl-
edge of any Indictment against me
| there, I can conceive OF no reason. for
| one. This property of mine in Texas,
| I have improved by building houses for
| my help. and l have stocked it with
| cattle and made it Self-supporting. ]
| have also raised a crop OF tobacco.
| Mrs. Duke produced a letter which
| she said was written by her husband
| to his father, in which he wrote Of her
in affectionate terms
| Mrs. Duke said she was born near
| Buffalo 81 years ago and came to Mrs.
| DesPlaines boarding house in this city
| when she was Il years old.
| Her mother. she said, was Helen E.
| Chapman. a daughter OF the professor
| of language In the University of New
London. Her grand father was Thoma.
| c. Webb, the father OF Free Masonry
| in this country, she declared. She
also told OF her marriage IN 1886 to Geo.
| w. Hopkinson. which marriage she said
| was annulled, and her marriage in 1881
| to Edward e. Powell Snd her divorce
| from him in 1903.
| After conference with his attorney
today, w. G. Bramham. private secre-
| taTy to Brodie L. Duke gave out tbs
following statement:
Mr.. Duke viii have nothing to dc
with his wife until all the charges made
against him are thoroughly cleared up
Ar. Duke - - sane - any mAn living