The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19
MUTUAL DIVORCE
GRANTED MACKAYS
Each Principal, in Case Before
French Court, Charges
Desertion.
CHILDREN GIVEN TO FATHER
Not Stated by Counsel Whether
There IS Any Financial
Settlement.
CHILDREN GIVEN TO FATHER
Especial 10 The Timcs-Dlspatch. !

lSptclal 10 Ihe Tim DISpatch.1
New York, February lS.-Mr. and
Mrs Clarence II. Mackay were granted
mutual divorce in Paris on February
IL. In French law, a mutual divorce
means that each principal interposes
counter claim. and that the claims
are identical According TO John H.
Stanchheld, attorney for Mrs. Mackay,
and Frederick +. Coudert, Mr. Mack :
avs lawyer, both charged desertion. By
mutual agreement the three children
Katherine. Ellen and John Ware
given into the care of their father.
Mr.. Stanchheld tonight issued the
following statement:
I'm December last Mrs. Mackay sailed
for Europe and took up her residence
in an apartment in Paris, which she
held under lease for 4 considerable
period Of time. She brought suit in
the Tribunal OF the Seine against Mr.
Mackay for a divorce on the ground OF
desertion. He voluntarily appeared In
the action, and interposcd a counter
claim, alleging desertion on the part
OF the plaintin. No other charge was
involved. The court, as is the practice
in France. endeavored to bring about
a reconciliation. Being unable to ac-
complish such n result, n divorce was
granted on or about the llth OF sFebru-
airy to each of the parties The custo-
dy of the children was awarded to Mr.
Mackay with the provision that Mrs
Mackay can sec them at all reasonable
times.
JOHN Il. STANCHFIELD."
Settled Amicabiy.
Everything was settled amicabiy,"
Mr.. Stanchhcld said. Mrs. Mackay
sailed secretly from New York shortly
before Christmas. Mr.. Mackay fol-
lowed her on January 5.
II do not know whether there was
any financial settlement nor whether
there was any alimony asked or grant
ed. do not recall the name of the
French lawyer representing Mrs
Mackay."
Mr.. Mackay returned to this coun
try on February l, and was found to-
night at his town house, No. 1 East
sixty second Street. He referred all
reporters to his attorney, Frederic r.
Coudert. who issued tho following
statement:
"On February II tho French courts
granted mutual divorce to Mr.. and
Mrs. Mackay, in an action brought
by Mrs. Mackay on the ground OF de-
sertion. Mr. Mackay having interposed
n countcr-claim on tho same ground
cree grants the full custody and con
troll of the three children to Mr.
Mackay. with the right to visit them
accorded to Mrs Mackay."
The divorce of the Mackays. is in
itself not an unexpected event. al
though tho proceedings were cioaked
with secrecy in Paris that evidently
could not be assured here.
On October so the announcement
was made that Uterhart & Graham, at
torncys for Mr.. Mackay, had served
Mrs. Mackay notice OF his contem
plated action while the family was at
the Gresham Hotel here.
IT was because of the glare OF pub
LEFTY that was heating upon Mr.. and
Mrs. >Mackay in this country that they
went to Paris.
Studded with Sensations.
The martial life OF the Mackays has
been studded with sensations The
greatest of these was the suit Alcd
against Mrs. Mackay by Mrs. Kath
crime Blake. Mrs. Blake asked ST.
100000 damages. The papers contain
Continued On Second .Page)