Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-25
MRS. A. J. DREXEL
GRANTED DIVORCE
London Court Awards De-
cree on Statutory and
Desertion Charges
sToRMY MARITAL RECORD
Testimony Showed Banker Said
It Was Impossible" to
Live in L. S.

urs Anthony j. Drexel. wife Of the
.-dely known Philadelphia banker, has been
rssnhd a decree of divorce. 1t was signed
- the divorce court in London, England
,nday on the ground Of deserton and stat
utOry charges 80.
Drexels has gept society of two conti-
rents more or less on the qui vive for sew
era years.
Mrs Drexel. who was Miss Margaretta
Armstrong. daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. John
Armstrong. Of Baltimore, started divorce
sroceedings in Philadelphia in 1910.
Later the DreXels moved abroad. They
,snarated In 1915 the British courts were
Invoked by Mr. Drexel against enforce
,,nnt by his wife Of the terms of the sepa-
,ation by whichOhe was to pay her aimony
N $4,000 a year.
Mr. Drexel's income at that time was
piaced al about $3.50. 900 a year.
After being threatened even with Jail by
British authorities in the alimony fight MIR
Drexel moved t. Paris. Mrs. DreXel dur
ing the proceedings testified several times
that her husband had said lit was impos-
sible to live in America"
This and other testimony caused almost
, furore throughout America and among
many prominent and influential Americans
living in London and Paris,
Mr.. Drexel denied many of the alega-
that he had never said that America was a
rotten hole
The Drexels were married in 1886. They
have five Children--A. J. Drexel Jr, who
married Miss Marjorie Gould Margaretta
Who married Niscount Maidstone at one OF
the most fashionable weddings OF the Lon
don season; j. Armstrong DreXel the av-
htor; Mae Sarah DreXel and Louis c. y.
Drexel.
When the DreXels separated II was
alleged that an agreement for $4,000
year alimony was made between them. At
one time Mr. DreXel started to institute a
suit of separation against his wife. but the
suit failed it was said, because both were
then in France, where they were non-resi-
dents
one Of the many high lights of the do
nestle discord of the DreXes were brought
out in court when the $4,000 suit was
tried. Mrs. Drexel testified at the time that
her husband had assaulted her. A verdict
then was rendered in her favor After
more than a year the suit for divorce was
started,
The name of DreXel is representative OF
ell that Is best in the social life as we'll as
the financial life of Philadephi . Anthony
J. DreXel Is the grandson of Francis NJ.
Drexel who founded the banking house Of
Drexel & Co., of which Edward T. Stotes-
bury is now the active head.
For several years after their marriage
the DreXes lived at an extensive place at
Lansdowne; later, when their house was
destroyed by fire, they resided at Eighteenth
and Walnut streets.
Mrs, DreXel was very popular and her
social ambition led her to London in 1896,
where the couple took possession of Wy
than Abbey in oxford, taking their three
children Anthony, Jr,, Margaretta and Mac
Sarah, with them.
Mrs DreXers social Conquests were the
talk of London and Philadelphia, and
many Of the nobility attended the affairs
held in London. In 1901 Mr. and Mrs
Drexe brought over a party of guests
in their yacht to witness the American
cup races and extensively entertained while
in this city. Later in the year Mr.. DreXel
bought the Red Rose Inn property at Villa
nova.
Mis- Margaretta DreXel shared with her
mother social distinction in London, and
. on June 6, 1907 was presented at the third
court of King Edward and Queen Alexan-
dra, which was held in Buckingham Palace.
Only recently Mr.. DreXel caused cOnsid-
erable comment by serving as a stretcher-
bearer with a British ambulance corps
during the campaign in France