New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
Decree Ends Romance of
Daughter of Sir Wroth
Lethbridge
RAN OFF TO PARIS
AFTER ceremony"
Man in the Case Is g. Symmetry
Carmichael Cole, Of the
Indian Police.
lFrom The tribune Correspondent. /

lFIoW Inc Iflpuhc NOrfchpJnuent,
London. June 20.-In the granting
Of a decree multiplying the marriage Of
Torfrida Alianore Lethbridge, the
beautiful daughter Of Sir Wroth Leth
bridge, Bart, there was revealed to
London's society one Of the most ex-
traordinary romances ever recorded in
this country.
Miss Lethbridge, who is only eigh-
teen years old and Is connected with
several Of the most aristocratic fami-
lies Of England, her great-gTandfather
having been the fifth Earl Of Harring-
ton, joined in an elopement last Sep
tcmber, when she was only seventeen,
with George Symmetry Carmichael
Cole, a highly placed official in the
Indian police force. The two fled to
Dumfries, Scotland, where, in a pri-
vate house, with four witnesses, a
marriage declaration" was signed.
This declaration, which is the only
ceremony uniting the couple, was
worded as follows:
81, Torfrida Alianore Lcthbridge,
take George Symmetry Carmichael
Cole as my lawful husband"
After this strange rite, which Miss
Lothbridge at the time believed to be
the binding marital tie, the pair jour
neyed to Paris. where they were dis
covered and detained by the police un-
I'll the brides" mother, who is now
the Hon. Mrs. Walter Yarde- Butler,
arrived to take her daughter back to
England -.
During the whole Of their brief
honeymoon" Miss Lethbridge and
Cole had separate apartments in the
hotels at which they stopped. The
reason for their arrest in France was
that the girl is a ward In chancery,
and not having attained her major
ity, cannot marry without the consent
OF the court.
The most amazing feature of the
whole proceeding, however, is the chlv-
aIrous manner in which Mr.. Cole has
taken upon himself the blame for the
whole episode, despite the acknowl-
edged fact that it has ruined his
career and done him far more harm
than IL has done Miss Lethbrldge,
whom he protected in every possible
way. His excuse for the elopement
was that he and she were madly IN
love with each other, and that they
could not obtain the consent OF her
family to their marriage. lie had
meant TO 60 through a church cere-
monv with her after the Scottish dec
lsrofion. he said. but he found IL would
he impossible for them to get clergy
man in Great Britain to unite them un-
less she obtained the approval OF her
guardians in chancery. That was why
they went to Paris.
II take the whole blame upon my
self for our going of together Cole
said, in addressing the court. am
much older than she is. | thought she
wanted me, and in taking her away l
thought | was acting Loyalty TO her'
| went through the form of marriage
declaration thinking that 1t would
overcome her mothers opposition to
service in church. During last sum-
mer Miss Lethbridge and her motner
were my constant companions. ! THINK
my car registered 10000 miles on Jour
news on which they were always WIN
me. This child and | were thrown 10
gether and we became devoted to eaeh
other. The time came when ! was
faced with the question, Should l be
loyal to the petitioner or should l be
loyal to the friends whom | had known
for MANY wears? p | chose the only
noysible course open to me. | had no
intention of bringing this child into
trouble. ! hUtN NheS %
she, possibly, did not. thought
was being loyal to her after the trag-
edy happened" :.
After the two we're separated in
Paris Cole never saw Miss Lethbridge
except for few minutes in the pres
ence of Mr.. Justice Astbury in Lon
don. IT,
81 did not wish to give pain to the
petitioner" he said, in describing thaI
interview. 81 only asked her one queS-
ton. asked her why she had SUD
denly changed against me. Her reply
was; why didn't you take me to
church and marry me properly II !
couId have taken her TO church ana
married her properly ! would have
done so. ! said to her: VIII you
come to a church now? Her answer
was NO Her mind is turned from me
I'm wav that | don't understand. her
affection is turned to bitterness"
Cole then explained how he had
with difficulty obtained leave from the
,,o ,y Of India to come to Lon
Sor and appear at the hearing Of Miss
Lethbridge's application Tor decree
Of annulment. His voice trembled WIN
ernotion as he remarked that he had
travelled all the way from India on
the remote chance that the tragic al
fn;r might. after all, end happily.
"If il didn't" he added, 81 wanted
70 make it as easy and pleasant as
POSSIBLE for this young child. This