South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-29
GIVES DUKEDOM
To WE'D WIDOW
Of DEAD BROTHER
Lord George WELLESLEY Sacri-
fees Home and Title to
Keep Sacred Promise.

LONDON. oct 29.-Lord George
wellesley. one OF the great grandsons
OF the Duke Of Wellington, has de-
cided TO make his home in the Uni
ted States because Of his deetermin-
aion 0 be rue he woman he oIvees.
and o keep the promise made o his
dead brother. Lord Richard. who
was killed in the first battle OF Ypres.
The lady In the case rs Lad,- "a
mela wellesley, the daughter Of the
knight OF Kerry, and herself named
after the beautiful Pamela Fitzger-
aid the ilI-fater wife of Lord Ed
ward Fitzgerald, who lost his life i'm
the Irish Rebellion Of 17z9s
In the days before the war the
brothers, ichard and George Welles-
ley met and loved this daughter OF
the Kerry Knight. and Richard mar
ried her. When the call came ne
went to the front. leaving his wife
and children and Ireland In France
nc made his brother promise that if
anything happened. the widow and
children would be made his special
charge. There was no secret about
the love borne by the younger broth
az for his wife of Lord Richard. and
20 was because he knew of the sin
Cerity of the feeling that the elder
brother was convinced that If he
were called on TO make the great
sacrifice. his wife and two children
would be well cared for by his
brother.
Gave Up Everything.
The promise asked for was given.
and in the course OF time Lord Rich
ard fell CALAMITY lighting with his
men st Ypres. Lord George was then
Inn the air service. and was seeing
service in all parts of the world. He
fought in France. and Egypt. having
the distinction OF being the first Brit
ish airman I fly across the desert.
In Italy. also. he saw service. but
in the end doctors stepped in, and
ne was invalided out. SO far as fight
ing activity was concerned. He was
then sent on a epecial mission 10
Washington, where he remained un-
til he was "demobbed" a few weeks
ago. Then he came home on a brief
visit TO his friends and he startled
them by announcing his determine
ton To seek a home in America Civ
ing up career prospects his rights of
succession 10 the Dukedom, and even
suffering pecuniary loss for the sake
of the woman he loves and the pro-
mise made to the dead brother
The law in this country does not
rf4ra 4
"a deceased brother. though il is legal
to marry a deceased wife's sister
The only course open TO Lord
George, therefore, was 10 marry to
his sister-inlaw in the United States
and settle with her there. This he
has done. and his visit TO this coun-
try was for the purpose of winding
UP his affairs here
Promise Too Sacred.
Asked why he had taken this
course, Lord George said. What
other course could 1 take? 1t was
not only that 1 love the lady who
is now my wife; that the two chill
dren OF my brother were very dear
TO me. but there was the promise
/ made to him-a promise too sa-
cred TO be ignored. 7 think the law
in this country on this subject is un-
fair. and requires To bc altered. 1
intend 10 use what influence I pos
sess 10 have it altered, bu in the
meantime. I cannot leave the woman
/ love and the children to go
through life without the protection
and care can give them.
our law allows a man 20 marry
the sisted OF his deceased wife so
why should It not be possible for
him TO marry his deceased brothers
wife. There is much to be said for it,
and there is no real affinity OF birth
10 serve as a bar TO he marriage.
Il do not think that even the
church has anything 70 say about
the matter. IL Is just that the law
here has never expressly specified
that such marriages could be sol
emnized. Therefore ] must go TO
the United States. where they take
n more sensible view OF the posi-
ton. II live over here 1t means
that We live under conditions hat
lay Us open TO civil disability. and
social catracism.
Il am not tnsensible Of all i lose
by leaving the home j love II means
tearing myself up by the roots. seek
Ing a dOmicile in the states. and be-
coming a plain American citized in
stead OF being Lord George Weues-
ley. I am content o make the sacri-
fee, for make it for love
Our Daty 10 Love.
On the same subject. LADY Pane
Ia said: II too. have TO abandon
home an the social life could enjoy
in this country, but we must obey
he dicaes of our own hears, and car
r. on he wished OF my dead hus-
band. We are denied recognition in
this country, and the only way to