The Detroit times., 1908-05-14
BOTH THE N KEGS.
ARE GRANTED
DIVORCE
FRENCH COURT FINALLY DIS
POSES OF uNsAvoRY CASE IN
PITTs6uRo HIGH LIFE THAT
SHOCKED TWO CONTINENTS.

PARIS. May l4.-The French court
today formally granted a decree OF d.
vorce to both Mr.. and Mrs. A. Hart
Mckee, Upon recommendation OF the
Encouragement.
The verdict was not unexpected. be-
cause in his summing up subsequent
TO the presentation OF arguments, the
encouragement said that he thought
divorce ought TO be granted both to
the husband and wife.
The divorce decree today comes as
as the climax TO one OF the most no
torious international scandals In
which an Americans name has been
linked.
Mrs. Mckee, before her marriage,
was Mrs. Hugh Tevis. the widow or
the wealthy California turfman. Her
maiden name was Cornelia Baxter. the
daughter OF Col. G. NJ. Baxter, OF
Knoxville, Tenn. She was famous as
a beauty and Is rich in her own right.
Mckee has been married once before.
He is the son OF n. Sellers Mckee,
Pittsburg millionaire who is now a
resident OF New York and Paris. Mr..
McKee's first wife was Lydia Sutton.
OF Pittsburg, who divorced him five
years ago.
Moved Among Titled Families.
The Mckee divorce case for up
wards OF year has absorbed the at
tention OF the American colony In
Paris. Both were young. prominent
and wealthy and their social position
was fixed. They entertained lavishly
and have quite an extensive friend
a. IaI 90. toe r.f q
French and Italian capitals.
The long series OF hearings brought
out a consecutive account OF scandals
and the documentary evidence was or
such salicious character as to- call
down from the court a warning upon
the heads OF the barristers.
Early in March the attorneys began
presenting their evidence. Maitre
Barbour, for Mrs. Mckee, presented
his side of the case first. The affega-
tions accused Mckee of undue friend
ship with the female servants; OF par
simony towards his wife; OF threats
made against Mrs. McKee's child and
! OF efforts to stir up an evil scandal
which would besmirch the good names
of innocent persons. In this respect M.
Barbour related that Mckee wrote
| series OF SOclcty lcttcTS IoI d pIouith-
ent New York publication which Gre
ated a sensation at the time OF their
publication. These letters were sign
ed Fiji"
Accused Wife Of immortality.
On the other hand counsel for Nc
Kee, Maitre Labori. replied In scath-
| ing terms when he arraigned the wife.
He accused Mrs. Mckee OF writing I'M
moral letters: of immodest conduct
with an English nobleman; of con-
tracing great gambling debts and OF
DESERVING her husband. In addition to
this recitation he refuted all the
charges which the wife had made
against her husband.
Immediately upon the divorce case
beginning Mckee sued Col. Baxter.
| his father-in-law. for libel He de-
clared Col. Baxter had made defama-
tory statements again him. The
complainant asked for one franc dam
ages and that a retraction OF the
stories published in five hundred
newspapers in France, England and
America bemade.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Mckee are still
residing in Paris. Just what dis
position will be made OF their son
remains to be seen. Both are de-
sirous OF retaining the child. Mckee's
parents are in America.