Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-19
Mutual Divorce
 for the MackayS
FRENCH COURT ISSUES A DE-
 CREE TO BOTH,
BASED ON DESERTION
Father Gets Custody of the Three ChiIdren-No Monetary Matters Mentioned in Papers in the Case.

New York, Feb. 1S-A mutual di- vorce to Clarence H. Mackay, presi- dent of the Postal Telegraph Cable company and numerous other corpora tions, and Katherine Duer Mackay his wife, was granted by the courts of France last Wednesday, it was an nOunced here tonight by Frederick R. Coudert, counsel for MT. Mackay.
 Father Gets Children.
 The decree, obtained in Paris, was the result of a suit brought by Mrs. Mackay on the ground of assertion. Mir Mackay interpOsed a counter claim on the same ground The chil- MT. Macl1ay with the privilege of wis iting them granted to their mother.
 Statement of Maekays Counsel.
 MT. Coudert'S statement was as fol- lows.
 ''On February Il the French courts granted a mutual divorce to MT. and Mrs. Macl1ay in an action brought by Mrs. Mackay on the ground of deser- tion, MT. Mackay having interposed a counter-clai on the same ground. No other charge was involved. The de cree grants the full custody and con trol of the three children to MT. Mac kay. with the right to visit them ac- corded to Mrs. AIackay."
 Deorees Granted to Both.
 Subsequently John B. Stanchheld. of counsel for Mrs. Maclkay, gave out a statement in which he expIaind that a mutual divorce Is common under the code Napoleon, the law in France. Under it a decree is granted to both parties where issues are joined by the defendant filing suit and urging the same grounds as were alleged by the plaintiff.
 Tn such cases" he explained. "the court makes an effort to reconcile the parties in open court and, this failing, issues a decree to both.'
 French Courts Have Jurisdiction.
 Frederic R. Coudert. MT. Mackay's attorney declined to discuss the case beyond merely announcing the facts and declaring there was no question but that the courts of France have Jurisdiction over persons who may admittedly be American citizens and residents of New York if they satisfy the courts that they have residences in France. MT. Mackay has long had a home in that country, the lawyer said and Mrs. Mackay has had a place there for some months past.
 Mrs. mackay Signed Away Home.
 No monetary matters were mention ed in the papers in the case. according to Messrs. Coudert and Stanchfield These. it is understood here, were ar ranged a year ago, when Mrs. Mackay signed away her title to the S6OOO- 900 home which her father-in law. John W. Mackay, the bonanza king of Comstock Lode fame, gave her when she was married. This was at the time when Mrs. Joseph A. Blake, wife of the noted surgeon, began a suit against Mrs. Mackay for 1,00O, 900, al- legtng alienation of the affections of her husband This case did not be- come public property until June last. Subsequently, it was withdrawn by consent of the parties about the time Mrs. Blake was granted a separation and SlO,OOO a year alimony.
 Three Years of Domestic InfeIicity.
 The troubles of the Mackays have been a matter of society gossip for nearly three years past A year ago Mrs. Mackay took up her residence in Portland, Maine. and it was then thought she would sue for a divorce there In the early winter it was oth- erwise arranged and in December she sailed for Paris. her husband follow ing the next month. He returned here on January s1, denying that any recon ciliation had been effected. There was no hint at this ttnle however, that the French courts had heard both himself and his wife in divorce case
 MT. Afackay is in this city. Mrs Mackay remains abroad