The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-11
Tobacco Magnate Runs
. Afoul of Parson S Aver.
sion to Divorce.
DURHAM WOMAN
INTENDED BRIDE,
Thrice Married, Twice Divorced,
Millionaire Has Trouble TAX
ing Unto Himself Fourth
Mate-Young Woman
Doesn't Know Now if
She Will Wed.

Washington. D. c. June lo--Brodie
| L. Duke, one of the tobacco nagnates
of the country, came quietly TO Wash
| ington to-day to negotiate the fourth
marriage contract of his career. and
| after carefully laid plans for the cere-
| mony, ran afoul of Presbyterian
clergyrnan's aversion to divorce
Mr.. Duke had planned to be mar
| rted at 4 o'clock this afternoon to Miss
| Wylanta Roschelle. of Durham. N. c..
| where are situated his tobacco inter-
ests and his magnificent estate. The
| Rev, Donald G. Macleod. pastor of the
| First Presbyterian Church, had agreed
| to perform the ceremony. That un-
| derstanding was reached between the
| prospective bridegroom and the Pres
| byterian pastor about o'clock in the
morning. soon after the wealthy to-
bacco manufacturer and his bride-to
be had arrived in the city.
Under the law of the District Of
| Columbia, 1t is required that the name
OF the minister or marrying justice
appear on the license application and
the license before it is Issued Cogni.
zant OF this provision, Mr.. Duke, ac-
companied by a friend, called on Rev
| Mr.. Macleod before he applied for his
| license.
| Plans Run Smoothly.
| Having arranged to be married in
Pastor MacLeods study at o'clock,
| Mr.. Duke procured the license He
| gave his residence and that of Miss
! Roschelle as Durham, N c., his age at
| slxty-two years, and hers at twenty
| eight The name of Rev. Mr.. Macleod
was given as the marriage parson. So
| far the plans were running smoothly.
Later in the day. some seeker after
4 E1ScOyGrp0 In. Il IN
the tobacco man. three times married,
twice divorced, and on several occa-
/ sicns involved in marital difficulties
the CHIEF OF which involved trouble
/ with his last wife, the late Alice Webt
Duke, was to be married. This fact
4 subsequently, was announced to the
public through the newspap ers.
/ Warned OF the Forthcoming event re-
porters and photographers gathered at
the First Presbyterian Church. Halt
an hour before the appointment. Rev.
| Mr.. Macleod arrived at the church
! He entered his study. and few min
/ utes later came out and requested the
camera brigade to leave tho church
yard. Summoning the reporters. he In
| formed them that there was to be no
| wedding.
The marriage license bureau re-
| cords show that YOU are to marry
Brodie L Duke" was suggested.
| Well, am not going to marry him
here or anywhere, :, replied the pastor
somewhat vigorously.
Have you refused to marry him
on the ground that he has figured in
| the divorce courts?"
We'll, that Is not for me to say"
was the reply. you are good
] guesser.''
Subsequently, Rev. Mr.. Macleod de.
clared that he did not know Mr. Duke,
and that when he had come to him in the
morning and engaged him to perform
a marriage ceremony, he had agreed
to do so, not having known the appli-
cant's marital history. When he af-
terward learned the facts. he commu-
nicated with Mr.. Duke and Informed
him that he could not ofiiciate.
Bridal Party Disappears.
The time for the ceremony was then
drawing nigh. and. in order for Mr.
Duke to be married in the District OF
Columbia, 1t was necessary for him tc
procure another minister or justice
and to fleshis name on the records a,
the courthouse. This he had not done
when the license office closed at
o'clock, and no trace Of the brida
party could be found.
Miss Roschelle was discovered latt
tonight at the home Of Mrs. Mary G
Horsley. private tutor, under whom
she has been studying. Mr.. Duke
called there shortly after . o'clock
had brief conversation with her and
disappeared again. Miss Roschelle
was highly indignant over the notori-
ETY. attending the attempted marriage,
and announced her Intention of re-
turning Immediately to her home In
Durham.
81 was going to marry Mr.. Duke to-
day." she said. but ISdon't know now
whether I will or not"
u Miss Roschelle Is the daughter OF a
Durham merchant.
1. Duke is estimated to be worth ST.
j, 100000. Early In life he married hap
PLY. and by this marriage two daugh-
fters were born. They are married anc
have children Ills first wife died. A
second marriage ended In divorce, anc
his divorced wife now lives in Cali,
fornia.
Alice Webb. the Texas promoter
was his third Wife and this allianc.
: . developed into a national sensation
She brought about Dukes incarcera
ton In private asylum on Long Is
land as insane, and he was subse
, quently released by relatives. From
! her he afterward secured a divorce
Family Is Excited.