Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-15
Was Unexpected, But Duke Was
Insistent so She Accepted
/. Him, MRS. Duke Says.
SHE TELLS HER LIES STORY
Her Grandfather Was Thomas Webb,
the Father Of Freemasonry in Amer
ica.--she First Met 7rodie l.. Duke
When She Was Seeking Lean Of
$1s,5uo in Course OF Business.

$1s,5uo in Course OF Business.
(Ry Associated Press.)
NEW YORK. Jan. 14.-Mrs Brodie
l. Duke, whose marriage to Brodie l.
Duke, a half brother Of the President
Of the American Tobacco Company,
was followed ty her husbands COM
mitment to sanitarium and proceed
fngs 10 inquire into his sanity, made
a statement of the circumstances m
der which she met aud married MIR.
Duke today.
She Wants ITO Be Set Right"
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 dnmbfoundcd when Duke pro-
posed marriage to her, that Duke had
promised to give her stocks and bonds,
but had never done so.
Mrs. Duke said that Sne had been
largely Interested in tobacco raising in
forests in Redfield. Texas. that she
formerly was promoter in Chicago
with Charles F.. Taylor and that she
was Il land and immigration agent
tho Southern Pacific Company.
Her First introduction,
Mrs Duke then stated that she re-
CURED the sum Of s1S.5OO to pay for
the Redfield land, as, although she had
possession of it. she did not have
clear title because the land belonged
TO the bankrupt firm Of Sully and Com
pany, which gould not deliver a deed
10 her Her first Introduction to Mr.
Duke was the outcome of her attempt
to secure loan. from him to develop
her lan;ls at Redfield.
Proposal Was Unexpected.
MIR. Duke came up and saw me in
New York and three days afterwards
lie asked me to marry him." said Mrs.
Duke. II was dumbfounded at the re-
quest, but he insisted that I become
HIS wife and finally consented and we
We're married on December 10.
When Mr.. Duke asked me to marry
him we discussed his family affairs. The
fact that he was twice married and had
four children made me realize it would
he unpleasant for me to marry him
and enter into his family. However, I
told him that would sign an agree
mcnt not to accept any of his property
in case OF death, only securing for my
self my own property at Redfeld,
which is situated four miles from Ma
cogdoches.
Won His Whole Faith.
I'm reply TO this, Mr. Duke said: 4
believe in you nov and I will never
doubt you any more. shall trust you
and I will find a way to give you while
am alive, stocks and bonds, and what
is left. after my death, the children
can fight over it if they want to-
did Mr. Duke give You any such
stocks and bonds? ?" was asked,
NO he never did"
Mrs. Duke then told OF her mar
riage by Rev w. ". Coe. in New York.
They lived at hotel until Mr.. Duke
was taken away on January 6, she said.
Not Afraid 70 Go Back.
Il have nothing to fear in Texas"
said Mrs. Duke. Il am not afraid to
90 back there and while have no
knowledge Of any indictment against
me there, | can conceive of no reason
for one. This property of mine in
Texas have improved by building
houses for my help, and have stocked
it with cattle and made it self-support-
ing. ! have also raised crop Of to-
bacco.
Mrs. Duke produced a letter, in
which he wrote OF her inaffectionate
terms.
Her Life's Story,
Mrs. Duke said that she was born
near Buffalo 81 years ago and came
10 Mrs. hesplaines' boarding house in
this city when she was twelve years
old.
Her mother, she said. was Helen T..
Chapman, a daughter Of the professor
of languages in the University Of New
London. Her grandfather was Thomas
s. Webb. the father of F'reemasonary
in this country, she declared. She also
told of her marriage in 1885 to George
W. Hopliinson. which marriage she
said was annulled, and her marriage
in; II 97, to Edward r. Powell and her
divorce from him in 1908 -
w. 6. Bram,am's Statement.
After a conference with his attor-
ncy. w. G. Rramham. private secre.
tary TO- Brode L. Duke, gave out the
following statement:
MIR. Duke will have nothing to do
With his wife until ali the charges
made against her are thoroughly
cleared IN. Mr. Duke is as sane as
any man living and in my opinion he
Will he released rf tho chnruot rf :,