New-York tribune., 1910-06-11
B. |. DUKE FAILS TO WE'D
Ran Against a Minister'S Aver
sion to Divorce.
ALL ARRANGEMENTS MADE
Tobacco Mans Fourth Matri-
monial Venture Blocked
Bride elect Indignant.

Bride elect Indignant.
Washington, June f0.-Brodie L. Duke
the wealthy tobacco man, came quietly 20
Washington to-day TO negotiate the fourth
marriage contract Of his career and after
carefully laid plans for the ceremony
ran afoul of Presbyterian clergyman's
aversion TO divorce.
Mr. Duke had planned to be married at
o'clock this afternoon TO Miss Wylanta
Roschelle, Of Durham, " c., where his
tobacco interests and his magnificent es-
tate are situated. The Rev Donald c.
Macleod. pastor Of the First Presbyterian
Church, had agreed to perform the cere-
mony. That understanding was reached
between the prospective bridegroom and
the Presbyterian pastor about o'clock in
the morning. soon after the tobacco manu-
the city
Under the law of the District of Column
bia IT is required that the name Of the
minister or marrying justice appear on the
license application and the license before
IT is issued. Knowing of this provision Mr..
Duke, accompanied by a friend, called son
Dr. Macleod before he applied for his
license. Having arranged to be married in
DR.. MacLeod's study at O'Clock, Mr.. Duke
procured the license. He gave his resi-
dence and that of Miss RoscheIIe as Dur
ham, N. C., his age sixty-two years
and hers as twenty-eight years. The
name of DR.. Macleod was given as the
marrying clergyman. So far the plans
were running smoothly.
Later In the day some seeker after news
discovered that Brodie L. Duke. the to-
bacco man. three times married twice df-
vorced and on several occasions In mari
tai difficulties. the chief Of which involved
trouble with his last wife. the late Alice
Webb Duke. was TO be married. This fact
was announced to the public through the
newspapers
Warned Of the forthcoming wedding, re-
porters and photographers gathered at the
First Presbyterian Church. Half an hour
before the appointment Dr. Macleod ar
rived He entered his study and few
minutes later came out and asked the
camera brigade to leave the churchyard
Summoning the reporters, he Informed
them that there was TO be no wedding.
The marriage license bureau records
show that you are to marry Brodie L.
Duke" was suggested.
We'll, 1 am not going to marry him
here or anywhere" replied the minister
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.''
Then the Minister Baked.
Subsequently DR.. Macleod declared he
did not know Mr.. Duke and that when he
had come to him In the morning and en-
gagged him to perform a marriage cere-
mony he had agreed to do so, not having
known the applicants marital history.
When he afterward learned the facts he
communicated with Mr.. Duke and informed
him that he could not officiate.
The time for the ceremony was then
drawing near, and In order for Mr.. Duke
to be married in the District OF Columbia
1t was necessary for him to procure an
other minister or justice. and TO file his
name on the records at the courthouse.
This he had not done when the license Of
fee closed, at o'clock
Miss RoscheIle was found late tonight
at the home Of Mrs. Mary L. Horsley.
private tutor, under whom she had been
studying. Mr.. Duke called there shortly
after O'Clock. had a brisf conversation
with her and disappeared again Miss Ros-
chelIe was highly indignant over the no
toriety attending the attempted marriage
and announced her intention of returning
Immediately to her home. in Durham
II was going to marry Mr.. Duke to-day,
she said, but don't know now whether
1 will or not
Miss Roschelle is the daughter OF a Dur
ham merchant
Durham. N c.. June 1O-The announce
IboN nrrLra hod
a license to wed Miss wylanta Roschelle
in Washington to-day caused the greatest
excitement among his relatives here An
automobile took several members of his
family to Raleigh tonight through down
pour of rain in an effort to catch the night
train to the national capital
Brodie L. Duke is the son OF Washington
Duke OF Durham. n. c. His martial af-
fairs made him conspicuous in the early
part of 1905. On December 19 of the previ-
Gus year he had married In this city Alice
Webb who represented herself as a mem
her of a weII-to-do family. Soon after the
wedding II was charged that the new Mrs.
Duke was a mere adventures and had in
veigled the tobacco man into marriage.
Dukes relatives obtained his commitment
as an insane person on an order by Justice
Truax. and he was removed from the Park
Avenue Hotel, where he was living with
his bride Taken TO Bellevue, he was sub
sequently transferred to Sanford Hall
Sanatorium, in Flushing, but was set free
by Justice Gaynor. Eventually the rela-
tives dropped all proceedings against Duke.
Following that Mrs. Duke sued for lin
tied divorce on the ground of abandonment.
Mr.. Duke brought a counter suit and won.
The divorced wife was declared insane in
Chicago last year.