New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-07
COOKE, DIVORCED, WILL
WE'D FL0RETTA WHALEY
Wife of EIoping Hampstead
Rector Obtains Decree in
Hartford. Conn.

Il have been waiting for this for six
frocked Episcopal clergyman. when he
heard last night that his wife. Marinda
Clarke Cooke. had obtained divorce
from him in Hartford. Conn.
Floretta Whaley. with whom Cooke
eloped in 1907. when she was still in
her teens. was in the room when Cooke
was asked what he intended TO do. now
that he was free man.
Evidently there was no doubt In the
mind Of either Of them. for she smiled
as II she knew the answer even before
he replied.
Il intend 10 get married or course.
] shall have TO see my lawyer first, w.
J. Enn!sson, OF No. II Broad street
/ have heard nothing officially from
him yet. My information comes en-
tirely from the newspapers. ! intend
TO see him tomorrow. and We viii tax
everything over. If there are no legal
complications l shall get married to-
morrow. We have thought Of this a
long time. and We want to be sure that
everything is legal"
Desertion the Ground.
Cooke and Miss Whaley are living IN
small apartment on the first floor Al
No. jG4 West l13d street. The name
on the doorplate is Balloon. and few II
any of the ncighbors know that the
quiet couple are rebels against society.
They have not Haunted their revolt.
Their two children were tucked away
in bed last night when the plans for
the truce with convention were an
nounced.
The divorce was granted at a special
civil session Of the Superior Court. In
Hartford. presided over by Judge Joel
". Reed. The decree was obtained on
the ground Of desertion dating from
April 80. 1907. II was on this date that
the rector and the girl eloped. Mrs.
Cooke was authorized to resume her
maiden name Of Clarke. Cooke aided
his wife in getting her divorce. for he
filed an answer admitting the allega-
tions in the complaint.
Mrs. Cooke was represented by her
uncle, Sidney f. Clarke. She attended
the trial and testified that she and Mr..
Cooke lived first in Baltimore. where
he. was curate of Grace Church, ana
then moved TO Hampstead. where her
husband was rector OF st. George 8
Church. on April 30. she said. Mr..
Cooke told her he was going to Baltl-
more for a few days. and induced her
10 take a trip to Hartford. He took
her 10 the station, and since that time.
she said. she had neither seen him nor
communicated with him directly. She
knew, she said. from common report
that her husband had run away with
Floretta Whaley.
Mrs. Cooke Not Bitter.
Bishop Burgess heard from Cooke az
ter he ran away. the witness said. The
communication was letter requesting
the Bishop to depose him from the
clergy as quickly as possible.
Mrs. Cooke was a calm witness and
testified without any apparent bitter
ness toward her husband. In reply to
question from Judge Reed as to why
Cooke had run away. she answered.
ITO protect the girl as well as HIM
self"
When the judge pressed the question
futher she said that she knew no rea-
son why her husband should have been
unhappy. Mrs. Cooke said she had
never suspected her husbands infatua-
tion for Miss Whaley. although she had
noticed he paid the girl a good deal Of
attention.
Thomas ]. Conroy, private de-
tectjye. Of Hartford. was the only other
witness.
When YOU go 10 the country. take AN
COsTUPA BITTERS, an exquisite tonic.