Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-29
'COSS|PS PICK next
. MRS. MCCORMICK
Chicago Hears Twill Be Mary
Carden-New York Says
Gamma Walska
PRIVATE PACT ON WEALTH

Chicago. Dec. 20.--After a married
life of twenty six years Mrs. Edith
Rockefeller Mccormick, daughter of
Jobn D. Rockefeller. yesterday obtained
divorce from Harold F, Mccormick
IN what was said to be a record time
IN Chicago courts.
Only fifty minutes elapsed from the
time Mrs. Mccormick filed her bill until
the decree was signed by Judge Charles
A. Mcdonald. Alimony was not men
toned in the decree.
Mrs. Mccormick appeared in court
At 10 80 o'clock and filed her bill,
which tersely charged her husband
with deserting her on May 81, 1918,
in Zurich. Switzerland. a few min
utes later Mr.. McCormick's attorneys
filed an answer admitting the charge Of
desertion. and less than twenty five
minutes later the hearing was started.
Mr.. Mccormick did not appear in court.
Left Her in 1918
Mrs. Mccormick was asked less
than half dozen questions by her
attorneys, cliciting the statements
necessary to sustain the bill. She teS-
tilted that she was married in 1895,
that Mr.. Mccormick left her in Zurich
IN 1918 without reason. and that be had
since failed to provide for her.
The decree did not mention the three
children of the couple. Harold r. Nc
Cormick, Jr., and Miss Muriel Nc
Cormick are now living with their
father here, while Mathilde, the second
daughter, is abroad.
Friends Of the McCormicks had fore
seen that the end of their domestic
tanglc was near, for they both an
nounced that this was the list year
they would make up the deficit of the
Chicago Grand Opera Company. They
are paying the 5000, 900 deficit this
year.
The announcement of the divorce
caused great excitement at the audi
toriunl. where groups of grand opera
stars discussed 1t eagerly.
For months it has been rumored that
the friendship of Mccormick and Miss
Mary Garden. directrix OF the company,
would some day end in marriage.
The rumor was further strengthened
when it was declared by several mem
bers of the opera company that Miss
Garden would positively retire from the
stage at the end of the 1923 season.
Now the friends of the divorced
couple on the gold coast" are simply
wondering when the expected announce
ment of the marriage of Mccormick
and Miss Garden will be made public.
Adjust Money Interests
I. A private agreement adjusting all
the huge money interests involved was
drawn up in advance Of the suit and
Is in the hands of attorneys. Under
the agreement the property is divided
on O basis of actual ownership. the two
parties each receiving exactly what
each purchased. No money settlement
Is made upon Mrs. Mccormick.
The one minor child, Mathilde. is
gwen her choice as to which parent she
Will live with. The Mccormick town
house, at 1000 Lake Shore drive. II is
understood, goes to Mrs. Mccormick.
while her husband retains the show
place at Lake Forest.
Although the divorce disrupts one Of
the wealthiest households in America,
no word Of property settlement or ali.
mony was spoken in court. Mrs. Nc.
Iormick possesses millions in her own
name, and Mr.. Mccormick is a multi
millionaire. Mr.. McCOrmcli's attor.
neys, after the hearing. said there might
be division of property in which Mr..
and Mrs. Mccormick are Jointly inter-
tsted. IT is not expected, they said,
that the separation viii affect their re-
cent Join. gift of stage property or sup.
Port TO the Chicago Opera Company.