Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-02
Charged Morganatic Mar
rage by King George.
Absolute FaIsity Of Story Prov
en- by Best Of Witnesses.
king Not Present. Woman
Named Brands L a Lie.

London, Feb. 1.--Report, oft repeated.
that King George, while q cadet in the
royal navy, made morganatic ALI
ancc with the daughter of Sir Michael
Culmc- Seymour, was given complete
Official denial in the highest court OF
Eng.and today. Edward Myths. the To-
cal agent and distributor Of Liberator,
a Republican paper, published in Paris.
which revived the tale last November,
was tried oh IL charge of scditious Ii
bel. promptly convicted and given Il
maximum penalty of L months I'M
prisornent. In pronouncing sentence,
Lord Chief Justice Alverstone said that
punishment was inadequate for one
who had chosen a weapon for person.
al attack upon His Majesty, from the
use of which every honorable man
would recoi!
The story of the now exploded ro-
nance had been current for a long
time. but it became specially irritat-
ing to British sensa bilties after King
Georges accession AS published by
Editor Edward II. James of the Libcr-
ator, it set forth that during the life
time of the Duke of Clarence his ED
est brother and before George became
heir to the throne. the future King
visited Malta. where ne fell in love
with and married Mary Elizabeth.
Culme Seymour, eldest daughter of the
admiral, who was then stationed at
Malta as commander-in-ch Of the
Mediterranean station. This was sup
posed to be in 1890 but the admiralty
records showed that the King did not
a "a N on ny
visited Malta between the fall of 1888
and the summer Of 1893. The marriage
records of the island of Malta were
produced to prove that no such mar
riage had been recorded.
Admiral Culme- Seymour swore that
lis two daughters. one of whom had
since died. never had had an oppor-
tunity to meet His Majesty The admi-
rails three SONS gave similar testimony
and finally the daughter in question
who is now the wife of Capt d. Ma
pier, entered the witness box and de-
Clared that she had seen the King but
three times in her life. on the first oc-
casion she was seven years old. She
saw him again at Portsmouth. when
he called upon her father in 1898, eight
years after the alleged marriage, and
once again at garden party in 1908, Oh
which occasion she did not have d
chance to address him.
Myths offered no testimony and did
not examine the crowns witnesses He
confined his defence which he conduct
ed himself, to technicalties, testifying
that he could not be legally tried In
the absence of his accuser.
The defendant is small man and
was nearly hidden among the tall bar
risters representing the crown. When
lie read lengthy extracts from the law
in support to his claims his voice was
hardly audible.
The attorney general concluded his
appeal to the jury by saying that it
was not the throne which required de-
fence but His Majesty had sought the
protection of the court as man, hus-
band and father.
The proceedings came to dramatic
close when, after the sentence had
been pronounced Sir Rufus read a let
ter from King George in which the
writer set forth that only the advice of
the officers of the crown that such a
course would be unconstitutional had
prevented him from appearing person.
ally in the court room and publicly
declaring as untrue the allegation that
he ever entered into any marriage
alliance other than that contracted
with Queen Mary.
1t has been many years since pris-
oner has been tried in this country
under the statute invoked in the pres
ent case. In olden times. the offence
was punishable with branding and the
pillory. In today's trial the govern
ment invited the freest publicity and
the court room was crowded with not
ables.
The crown was represented by Sir
John A. Simon, the solicitor general.
Sir Rufus 1saacs, the attorney general
and Public Prosecutors Roylatt and
Muir The latter conducted the prose
cution of DIR. Hawley Crippen who was
convicted of the murder of his wife,
Belle Elmore.
Opposing this brilliant array of
counsel was no one but the defendant
himself, who elected to conduct his
own case. 1t is understood that he
asked that King George be subpoenaed
as witness but this was not permit
ted. as the su,nmoning of His Majesty
to the witness box would be uncon-
stitutional.