The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-13
Diplomatic Career MARRIED by I'm
fortunate Marriage at
Washington.

BN IA NIARQUIsF DE FoNTENON.
@ lR WlLLL1AI HAGGARD, who has
just thrown up the post OF min
~ lister plcnipotentinry at Rio, and
retired from tho british diplomatic
service cmbittered by falling TO re-
ceivc advancement - an ambassador
ship, hunters % juniors having been
promoted over his head, may be said
to have married his career nv AN un-
fortunate marriage ut Washington.
TO tho latter piece Of roolishness
may he ascrihcd the fact that the vari-
Gus Secretaries OF state who succeed
81 one another At tho Foreign Office
in London invatiahly turned deaf
ear 10 his pressing appeals for mission
in Europe The British legations IN
Central and South America arc not
regarded as particularly desirable
posts IN fact. they are looked upon
has spent four or five years in that
part OF the world, he is regarded as
entitled TO a good berth in some Euro
pean capital BY way OF compensation.
Poor Sir William HaEgard. however,
was left in Central and South America
for the best part OF 4 quarter OF a
century, and as he is now si%ty seven
years OF age, with no prospect of any
other appointment or preferment. he
Of his days with his second wife and
children. az Brakeman Hall his pretty
place near Thctford. in Norfolkshire
Brother OF the novelist. Sir Rider
lagcard, he created something OF n
sensation while attached to the Brit
ish legation at Washington. by marry
ing there, despite tho protests OF his
chief. sir Edward Thornton. = we'll
known divorces. Mrs. Carrie Kinney. by
!, II
family. OF Maryland sir Edward
Thornton was so augered about the
matter that he declined to retain flag
gard as Il member OF his staff--the am
tecedcnts OF Mrs. kinney were some
what storrly-and, accordingly, the
newly welded couple moved TO Lon
don.
Hasgard was employed in depart
mental work ut the Foreign Office
there his appointment as secretary to
any legation or embassy in Europe be-
ing rendered difficult by the fact that
his wife was a divorced woman, and
as such debarrcd In those days from
presentation at the English court;
consequently. not admissible at any
foreign court. The union was not 4
happy one. There had been misap-
prchensions and disappointmcnts on
both sides, with regard 10 money mat
y.
stormy scene, IIaggard obtained per-
mission of his chief to take tho place
OF one of tho secretaries of legation at
Tehcran. who had been forced to quit
his post suddenly OH account of sick
ness. Haggard left the same night
for Persia. without returning home for
his effects, or making any provision
FOR the maintenance or welfare OF his
wife Indeed. he did not even advise
her of his departure
Some weeks afterwards. Mrs. iag-
gard, finding that her husband da-
clincd TO answer her letters. or to
give any signs of life, and having had
the doors OF the Foreign Office closed
to her by reason OF the scenes which
she made there, returned to America.
where in the courts of ono of the
Western States she secured II divorce
from ilaggard on the ground of dcscr-
tion ana nonsuppori. Sho thcrcupon
contracted another marriage here. with
an American citizen, on tho strength
OF this divorce.
On learning this. TGaeGard returned
from Persia to London. and applied to
the English courts OF divorce for q
dissolution Of his marriage. on tho
ground that his wife had committed
bgamy. naming her new husband as
correspondent in the case. Tho Eng
lish tribunals granted Judgment in his
favoH taking the ground that as Mrs.
lIaggard had become by her marriage
to William IIaggard an English sub
joct. the courts OF her adopted conn
try were alone competent to dissolve
her matrimonial bonds. unless her hus-
band Joined her iii establishing; Il bona
eide legal domicile in ~ foreign land.
the Intervention of whose tribunals
they both agreed to Invoke. AS Has
gard had not been Il party to the di-
vorcc which sho had obtained in
America. it was held TO be OF no ac-
count. and In contracting another mar
riabe on tho strength of it, she had
therefore been guilty of bigamy in the
eyes Of the English law.
Haggard, thanks to this. was exempt
from paSInE my kind OF nlilnonY 10